a hula tradition

In the heart of Waikīkī, Royal Hawaiian Center’s weekly Hula Kahiko performances breathe life into Hawai‘i’s oldest form of hula.

TEXT BY ANNABELLE LE JEUNE

The echo of chant and pulse of percussion signal the start of Hula Kahiko, the oldest form of hula in the islands. It predates the settler influence of the 1700s and draws from a panoply of stories on ali‘i (chiefs) and the lāhui (the Hawaiian nation). Royal Hawaiian Center’s Hula Kahiko Ma Helumoa program was launched in 2010 by the erstwhile cultural director, Manu Boyd, and continues today under Monte McComber.

A rotating selection of hālau hula, chosen for their deep-rooted hula lineage, take center stage at the Royal Grove, historically known as Helumoa and once belonging to Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Devoid of modern instruments like ‘ukulele and the guitar, chants are instead accompanied by the rhythmic beats of the ipu (drums) or pū‘ili (bamboo sticks). Each hālau hula performs for a month every Saturday, inviting guests to nānea (relax) and connect with the time-honored art. 

See the events page for Hula Kahiko and the Royal Hawaiian Center’s other hula shows.