SO YOU WANT TO STUDY HULA? By Amy Ku'uleialoha Stillman There are many ways to go about studying the hula. The many ways range tremendously in terms of respectability. What follows are various factors for prospective students to consider. 1. The hula is a way of life to which many students and teachers are dedicated. In Hawaiian culture, the hula is more than just dancing. The movements and gestures performed by dancers are just the surface. Underneath this surface is a cultural system that celebrates creation and procreation, a pantheon of gods and their descendants on earth, mythological and legendary exploits, historical events and places, ancestral beings and cherished relations, and natural manifestations of life forces that nurture and sustain Hawaiian people. Sacredness permeates much hula, and much of the work associated with creating, teaching, and performing hula. Not all students aspire to deep levels of knowledge and understanding. Likewise, not all teachers who offer lessons have achieved insight into the spiritual depths of hula. Prospective students who wish to undertake study of the hula should understand that hula is held by many to be a serious endeavor, and that respect for Hawaiian cultural lifeways is appropriate, and will be appreciated. 2. Prospective students should consider what level of commitment they wish to make. The prospective hula student is faced with an array of choices. Classes are available for students who want a casual, relaxed experience that requires no commitment to perform. These classes are typically offered through community recreation centers. Students who aspire to performing on stage should seek out teachers experienced in presenting classes and soloists in public performances; these may range from amateur community exhibitions to professional entertainment venues. Those with a desire to probe more deeply into cultural knowledge must enter the world of hula schools, known as hālau. 3. Hula hālau function as a family. Becoming a haumana--student--in a hālau usually requires a serious commitment. This is because hālau run on cooperation. Haumana depend on each other to ensure success in all endeavors. Haumana consider each other as "hula sisters" and "hula brothers." Haumana learn quickly that those who do not pull their own weight are not to be entrusted with responsibility. 4. Not all knowledge is contained in only one school. This is a famous proverb. It is also a fundamental truth. Different schools of hula stem from different lineages of teachers and teachings. Each teacher brings their own individual creativity to their teaching and to their original choreography. This is why there are so many divergent styles of hula. And the beauty of it is that there is no one way to be right; rather, there are many ways to be right. Unfortunately, it also means that there are many ways to be wrong, too. 5. Not all teachers of hula have achieved comparable mastery of hula. Hula teachers in the present are referred to using the title "kumu hula." This wasn't always the case, however. In the old days, a kumu hula was an individual who had undergone extensive training that culminated in an 'uniki graduation ceremony. Nowadays, anyone who teaches classes may call himself or herself a kumu hula. And anyone who directs a hālau tends to be automatically called a kumu hula, regardless of whether or not the teacher considers himself or herself to be a kumu hula. 6. A kumu hula is a foundation for hula. The term "kumu" means "source" or "foundation." Thus, a kumu hula is, by definition, a source or foundation for hula. This is why the title was closely guarded in the old days, and reserved for those who had mastered an understanding of how hula needed to be carefully maintained, presented, and passed on from one generation to the next. Delving deep into hula is a humbling experience. The more knowledge and experience one acquires, the more one comes to realize how much there is to know, and how little of that one can ever learn. Deep study instills humility— ha´aha´a. The most respected kumu hula are also the most humble. They are the ones, too, who respect their peers. They teach their students to respect the efforts of other kumu hula, other hālau, and other haumana. 7. Deep knowledge is reserved for those who have earned it. Teachers cherish what they have learned from their teachers. They hold their knowledge close, because it is special. It is shared when students are ready and receptive. This is why an ´uniki ceremony is an ultimate achievement. The student has earned the teacher's trust. The teacher trusts that the student will care for what has been taught. The teacher trusts that the student can discern what is appropriate and what is inappropriate. The teacher trusts that the student understands why things are done they way they are. The teacher knows that his or her teacher's teachings will continue. So the teacher sends the student off on their own. They are free to create. What they must never do is disrespect what they have been taught, or betray the teacher's trust. 8. E nānā, e ho´olohe. E pa´a ka waha, e hana ka lima. Watch, listen. Keep the mouth closed, and the hands busy. One learns by listening and observing. Ask questions only after you've tried to figure out something yourself. 9. Hula is to be enjoyed! There is deep satisfaction to be derived from bring joy to oneself or someone else through hula. May your journey to hula be a fulfilling one. Note: This piece was first written in 2000 at the request of Auntie Maria Hinckley at Hawaiian Music Island (www.mele.com). She was seeking ways of responding to people who asked her to recommend a hula teacher. This is what I came up with. The piece has circulated widely throughout the hula world, and I am touched that so many have found these reflections useful.

SO YOU WANT TO STUDY HULA?

By Amy Ku'uleialoha Stillman

There are many ways to go about studying the hula. The many ways range

tremendously in terms of respectability. What follows are various factors for

prospective students to consider.

1. The hula is a way of life to which many students and teachers are

dedicated.

In Hawaiian culture, the hula is more than just dancing. The movements and

gestures performed by dancers are just the surface. Underneath this surface

is a cultural system that celebrates creation and procreation, a pantheon of

gods and their descendants on earth, mythological and legendary exploits,

historical events and places, ancestral beings and cherished relations, and

natural manifestations of life forces that nurture and sustain Hawaiian people.

Sacredness permeates much hula, and much of the work associated with

creating, teaching, and performing hula.

Not all students aspire to deep levels of knowledge and understanding.

Likewise, not all teachers who offer lessons have achieved insight into the

spiritual depths of hula. Prospective students who wish to undertake study of

the hula should understand that hula is held by many to be a serious

endeavor, and that respect for Hawaiian cultural lifeways is appropriate, and

will be appreciated.

2. Prospective students should consider what level of commitment

they wish to make.

The prospective hula student is faced with an array of choices. Classes are

available for students who want a casual, relaxed experience that requires no

commitment to perform. These classes are typically offered through

community recreation centers. Students who aspire to performing on stage

should seek out teachers experienced in presenting classes and soloists in

public performances; these may range from amateur community exhibitions to

professional entertainment venues. Those with a desire to probe more deeply

into cultural knowledge must enter the world of hula schools, known as hālau.

3. Hula hālau function as a family.

Becoming a haumana--student--in a hālau usually requires a serious

commitment. This is because hālau run on cooperation. Haumana depend on

each other to ensure success in all endeavors. Haumana consider each other

as "hula sisters" and "hula brothers." Haumana learn quickly that those who

do not pull their own weight are not to be entrusted with responsibility.

4. Not all knowledge is contained in only one school.

This is a famous proverb. It is also a fundamental truth. Different schools of

hula stem from different lineages of teachers and teachings. Each teacher

brings their own individual creativity to their teaching and to their original

choreography. This is why there are so many divergent styles of hula. And the

beauty of it is that there is no one way to be right; rather, there are many

ways to be right. Unfortunately, it also means that there are many ways to be

wrong, too.

5. Not all teachers of hula have achieved comparable mastery of hula.

Hula teachers in the present are referred to using the title "kumu hula." This

wasn't always the case, however. In the old days, a kumu hula was an

individual who had undergone extensive training that culminated in an 'uniki

graduation ceremony. Nowadays, anyone who teaches classes may call

himself or herself a kumu hula. And anyone who directs a hālau tends to be

automatically called a kumu hula, regardless of whether or not the teacher

considers himself or herself to be a kumu hula.

6. A kumu hula is a foundation for hula.

The term "kumu" means "source" or "foundation." Thus, a kumu hula is, by

definition, a source or foundation for hula. This is why the title was closely

guarded in the old days, and reserved for those who had mastered an

understanding of how hula needed to be carefully maintained, presented, and

passed on from one generation to the next.

Delving deep into hula is a humbling experience. The more knowledge and

experience one acquires, the more one comes to realize how much there is to

know, and how little of that one can ever learn. Deep study instills humility—

ha´aha´a. The most respected kumu hula are also the most humble. They are

the ones, too, who respect their peers. They teach their students to respect

the efforts of other kumu hula, other hālau, and other haumana.

7. Deep knowledge is reserved for those who have earned it.

Teachers cherish what they have learned from their teachers. They hold their

knowledge close, because it is special. It is shared when students are ready

and receptive. This is why an ´uniki ceremony is an ultimate achievement. The

student has earned the teacher's trust. The teacher trusts that the student will

care for what has been taught. The teacher trusts that the student can

discern what is appropriate and what is inappropriate. The teacher trusts that

the student understands why things are done they way they are. The teacher

knows that his or her teacher's teachings will continue. So the teacher sends

the student off on their own. They are free to create. What they must never

do is disrespect what they have been taught, or betray the teacher's trust.

8. E nānā, e ho´olohe. E pa´a ka waha, e hana ka lima.

Watch, listen. Keep the mouth closed, and the hands busy. One learns by

listening and observing. Ask questions only after you've tried to figure out

something yourself.

9. Hula is to be enjoyed!

There is deep satisfaction to be derived from bring joy to oneself or someone

else through hula. May your journey to hula be a fulfilling one.

Note: This piece was first written in 2000 at the request of Auntie Maria

Hinckley at Hawaiian Music Island (www.mele.com). She was seeking ways of

responding to people who asked her to recommend a hula teacher. This is

what I came up with. The piece has circulated widely throughout the hula

world, and I am touched that so many have found these reflections useful.