Living Hawaiian Culture Program
Hula Preservation Society Preserves Rare Forms of Hula
Kaneohe, Hawaii. The Hula Preservation Society (HPS), under the leadership of Kumu Hula Maile Loo,
has completed a nine-month project titled, Honoring the Ancients. Over 100 people, including residents and visitors from around the world, were educated on the existence and significance of three rare implements of hula through a series of workshops held at the organization’s Hale
Pulelehua Studio in Kaneohe.
Hula dancers perform ancient forms of traditional dance. — Ti-Leaf Group Photo.
The project, funded in part by the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s (HTA) 2011 Kūkulu Ola: Living Hawaiian Culture Program and the Josie and Don Over Memorial Dance Fund, provided workshop participants with information on the Papa Hehi, Ulili, and Ohe Hano Ihu in order to help individuals understand and share the beauty, richness, and depth that is the ancient hula of the kupuna.
“We were happy to take this first step in sharing knowledge of these rare forms from our kupuna with the Kumu and dancers of today. Their interest and dedication will help keep these unique and challenging forms alive and celebrated into the future. We look forward to continuing to offer this kind of training to our hula community locally and globally, and we invite interested Halau to contact us at workshops@hulapreservation.org to make plans for 2012.”
For additional information on the HTA Kūkulu Ola: Living Hawaiian Culture Program, please contact, Katie Gallagher, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement Community Development Specialist, via email at training@hawaiiancouncil.org or by calling (808) 596-8155.