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The Aloha Chant by Pilahi Paki contains instrumental lessons for students of hula and may be used as a guideline for correct behavior. Akahai – is reflective of a  hula student’s basic mind-set, especially towards the teacher in a classroom situation. Students shall be modest,...

What can you expect when you commit to the serious study of hula? Besides surprising and profound changes in the way you perceive nature, your fellow human beings and yourself, understand history and cultures other than your own and developing a new appreciation for the here and...

„Famous is `Ulupalakua, home of the cowboys“ is a well-known mele hula by John Pi`ilani Watkins written in 1947. It takes us to Maui`s upcountry, or more precisely, to the cattle ranches on the south-western slopes of Haleakala. According to legend, the area was named...

This weekend we are happy to welcome members of Hälau Hula O Mänoa from Paris and Rome to Berlin. We are looking forward to practicing together and enjoying each other’s company as we pay respect to our teachers, Kumu Hula Kilohana Silve and Kumu Hula Frank Akima Jr., and...

There at the coast of Kona with its peaceful cumulus clouds….begins one of the most popular hula tunes of all time. I Kona celebrates Big Island Hawai`i’s historic Kailua-Kona region. With its dreamy melody it offers Falsetto voices of all ages and genders a chance to...

Famous is Moloka´i…“ opens a uptempo hula song praising the fifth largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago. Composer Alice Johnstons‘ lyrics alludes to several cultural aspects of Moloka´i’s rich mythology and history.  First, Hina, goddess of the moon...

„Famous is Moloka´i…“ opens a uptempo hula song praising the fifth largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago. Composer Alice Johnstons‘ lyrics alludes to several cultural aspects of Moloka´i’s rich mythology and history.  First, Hina, goddess of the...

„I‘ d like to see s`more of Samoa….“ is a little-known gem of the Hapa Haole/Comedy Hula genre and was probably written around 1940, when a movie of the same title featuring the popular comedians the three stooges premiered. The unnamed composer may have had a vision of a moonlit...

Adapting to the currently icy temperatures, our recent focus is on the mele “`Alika”. This composition by Charles Kapa`a translates as “Arctic” and is said to have been inspired by the landing of a sailing ship of the same name in Hawai`i between 1787 and 1792. Musically, it is a...

“Mele O Ke Ke`ena Kalaunu” allows us to take a fleeting glance at the life of Lili`uokalani, last queen of the Hawaiian Islands, who lost her throne in 1893 in a  coup d´etat. The overthrow was instigated by American businessmen, who sought to enforce their commercial interests...