Reviving the Hula: Kalākaua Breaks Cultural Barriers Breaking Barriers to Return to Barrier to Cultural Tradition Legacy of Tradition Tradition Kalākaua Promotes Hula at His Thesis Tourism Thrives on Hula Shows In 1830, Queen Kaʻahumanu was convinced by western missionaries to forbid public performances of hula Coronation Hula became one of the staples of Hawaiian tourism. In the islands, tourists were drawn to Waikiki for the which led to barriers that limited the traditional practice. Although hula significantly declined, King Kalākaua David Kalākaua became king in 1874 and at his coronation on February 12, 1883 he invited several hālau (hula performances, including the famed Kodak Hula Show in 1937. broke cultural barriers by promoting public performances again. As a result of Kalākaua’s promotion of hula, schools) to perform. Kalākaua’s endorsement of hula broke the barrier by revitalizing traditional practices. its significance remains deeply embedded within modern Hawaiian society. “The orientation of the territorial economy was shifting from agribusiness to new crops of tourists...Hawaiian culture- particularly Hawaiian music and hula-became valued commodities… highly politicized, for whoever brokered the presentation of Hawaiian culture would determine the development of tourism in Hawaii.” “His Coronation in 1883 and jubilee “The coronation ceremony took place at the newly Imada, Adria. American Quarterly, vol. 56, no. 1, Mar. 2004 celebration in 1886 both featured hula rebuilt Iolani Palace on February 12, 1883. The festivities then continued for two weeks thereafter, concluding performances.” “In 1937, Fritz Herman founded the Kodak Hula Show, a performance venue feasts hosted by the king for the people and nightly "History of Hula." Ka `Imi Na'auao O Hawaii Nei Institute. Accessed that entertained tourists for 65 years. Herman, a vice-president and September 26, 2019. performances of hula… A program titled Papa Kuhikuhi manager of Kodak Hawaii, had the idea to promote picture taking by o Na Hula Poni Moi was printed for the occasion.” Hawaii State Archives Digital Collections, 1937. Silva, Noenoe K. Aloha Betrayed: Native Hawaiian Resistance to American National Air and Space Museum, 19 Nov. 2019 providing a hula show during daylight hours.” Colonialism. 2007. Kodak Hula Show - Hawaii History Tradition of Hula “For some months the King, through his agents has been causing a great variety of Hula was integral to Hawaiian culture before the arrival of Westerners because it passed down the genealogies of hulas- greater perhaps than it has ever Hawaiians because they did not originally have a written language. It also told stories of gods, kings, and how the before been attempted to reproduce- to be rehearsed by different groups of islands were born. performers, to be used in celebrating the Portuguese Historical Museum, 10 Apr. 2019 coronation.” The Hawaiian Gazette., February 28, 1883 Hawaiian Renaissance In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the revitalization of Hawaiian culture gained momentum. This movement inspired a returning of Hawaiian practices including the Hawaiian language, voyaging, and a renewed interest in “In pre-Christian days there were three structure “Hula is a very expressive form of dance, and every “Hula is the language of the heart and therefore the movement systems. The first was used in the mourning movement has a specific meaning...Chants, or mele, heartbeat of the Hawaiian people.” hula developed. “Hula I Ka Lā Hawaiian Cultural Foundation.” 19 Nov. 2019 ceremonies. A second structured movement system, accompany the movements, aiding in illustrating the called ha’a was used during sacred ceremonies at narrative and telling the story. Traditional dances focused outdoor temples. A third structured movement system, more on these chants than on hand gestures.” “According to crew member Billy Richards, the conflict “Hula.” New World Encyclopedia called hula, was used in formal and informal stemmed from two very different views of the voyage: for entertainment.” the haole crew members, the voyage was a scientific Kaeppler, Adrienne L. Dance Chronicle, vol. 27, no. 3, 2004 “The King took measures to strengthen the viability experiment to learn the techniques by which Polynesians of his own people and to support their rich heritage. had explored and settled the Pacific; for some of the He established the policy of ho oulu i lahui, to make Hawaiians, the voyage was an highly emotional journey of the nation grow, and initiate a revival of hula, the cultural reawakening.” life-blood of his people” 1976 Hawai'i to Tahiti and Back, 14 Apr. 2020 Schweitzer, Niklaus R. The Hawaiian Journal of History, 1991 Ka'iwakīloumoku, 18 Nov. 2019 Bishop Museum, 12 Feb. 1883 “Originally, the hula was a religious dance performed by 1976 Hawai'i to Tahiti and Back, 14 Apr. 2020 trained dancers before the king or ordinary people to Smithsonian Institution, 17 Nov. 2019 promote fecundity, to honor the gods, or to praise the chiefs.” By utilizing hula kuʻi, Kalākaua’s actions helped to display both traditional and modern dance. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 16 Jan. 2015, “Hokulea.” Newspapers.com, 15 Apr. 2020 “The hula ku’i as a musical and dance style originated in the 1870s and ‘80s as a conscious attempt “The King took some steps out of the “Hulas flourished as a part of a state-sponsored art, for the by Hawaiians to synthesize the musical aspects and dance movements of pre-European Hawaiian old-fashioned hula and put them into the direction, the performance and the ideals of the dance mele (chant) and hula (dance), and European song and dance.” modern hula with guitar”(157). were dependent upon the chief or king of the district.” Tatar, Elizabeth. Ethnomusicology, vol. 26, no. 2, 1982 IMADA, ADRIA L. The Journal of Pacific History 46, no. 2 (2011) Pollenz, Philippa. American Anthropological Association, 17 Nov. 2019 “Hula was more than a ritual dance. It was the Hawaiians “The Hawaiian Movement began as a battle for land rights way of keeping a record of history.” but would evolve, by 1980, into a larger struggle for native “The History of Hula Dancing: From Worship to Tourism.” Hula Dancing History, Bishop Museum - Ethnobotany Database Hawaiian autonomy. Land claims first appeared, as in Kalama Valley, as community-based assertions for the preservation of agricultural land against resort and subdivision use.” University of Hawaii at Manoa Archives and Manuscripts Trask, Haunani-Kay. Hawaiian Journal of History, vol. 21, 1987, pp. 126–153. Ed Greevy's Photograph Collection, 1971 Library, 1971 King Kalākaua Fights Stereotypes In order to combat racial stereotypes, King Kalākaua aimed to establish hula in order to place Hawaiians in a Western Influence Establishes Barriers positive light. Although discrimination persisted, hula dancers now could directly represent their craft. In 1820 Christian missionaries arrived to the Hawaiian islands and sought to suppress hula because they believed Merrie Monarch Festival Established it was immoral because it promoted old Hawaiian beliefs. When Queen Kaʻahumanu converted to Christianity she Although the Merrie Monarch Festival was created as a response to a lagging economy on Hawaii island in 1963, deemed hula a pagan ritual and banned hula in 1830. the purpose of the festival altered by the early 1970s. “Fortunately the hula survived and professional hula groups reappeared in the 1880’s. Kalakaua came to the throne in 1874 and revived the practice of gathering a retinue of court dancers. “Every year the Merrie Monarch Festival continues “Unquestionably many Christian Hawaiians considered Kalakaua’s court, however, became the breeding place for change.” Eia nō Kawika e This is David “But the disease is not confined to Honolulu alone- the what the king started, by hosting a week-long festival of hula immoral, and attempted to extirpate it.” Kaeppler, Adrienne L. Yearbook of the International Folk Music Council, vol. 4, 1972 O ka heke aʻo nā pu The greatest of all flowers leprosy is spreading into remote districts and attacks the "THE HISTORY OF HULA: HOW HULA WAS SAVED." Accessed September 30, 2019. music, crafts, art, demonstrations and a hula previously industrious and moral among the people, competition.” Ka uwila ma ka hikina e (He is) the lightning in the east That brightens Hawaiʻi inevitably leading to idleness and all its attendant vices. “HISTORY OF THE FESTIVAL.” 19 Nov. 2019 Mālamalama Hawaiʻi e Starting as it may seem, a return to idolatry is only a “With Kalakaua begins what might be called a Kuʻi e ka lono Pelekani e News reached England natural result of the hula.” “The Merrie Monarch Festival, named after King A lohe ke kuʻini ʻo Palani e Also heard by the French queen Pacific Commercial Advertiser May 13, 1858. conscious reinvention of tradition for the Kalakaua, has taken place in Hilo, Hawaii, each year purpose of cementing Hawaiian national Na wai e ka pua i luna e Who is this flower of high rank? identity and reinforcing indigenous political since 1963. In 1971 a hula competition was begun with Na Kapaʻakea he makua e Kapaʻakea is his father aspirations which were coming under pressure nine women’s groups participating. In 1976 a division Haʻina ʻia mai ka puana e Tell the refrain from the white settlers.” for men was added. The competitions are judged by a Kalani Kāwika he inoa e King David, is his name Balme, Christopher B. Paideuma 45 (1999) panel of seven, who are highly regarded members of the hula community.” J. Kealoha. “Kawika.” King's Hawaiian Melodies, 1836 Kaeppler, Adrienne L. Dance Chronicle, vol. 27, no. 3, 2004 Festival, Merrie Monarch. “14th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival -- 1 Jan. 1977 “Hula on tour continued to assert the glory of Judge Magazine, 6 Jan. 1894 chiefs and gods and, by extension, that of the El Paso Herald, Sep. 16, 1916 The objective of the festival now focuses upon celebrating hula and perpetuating Hawaiian arts.