Hālau Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe - "Kalākaua"/"Kawika"

[@vannamckay1240]

I’m sorry! This is not what I was talking about! I know what Kahiko is and the auana is, but lately when watching dancers on You Tube, they danced the Auana in a different style. I guess each Halau have come up with their own style that I’ve noticed. I’ll have to keep watching. I love this new style!

[@vannamckay1240]

Enjoyed your hula! I notice your style is different. When did you start dancing this way? I can’t describe it , but it’s a new way of dancing! I hope you can enlighten me! Mahalo!!!

[@JodyY808]

Aloha Vanna! I am the videographer who recorded this live performance and posted this video on my KZbin channel, so the dancers in the video (I don't know their names) may not see and cannot respond directly to your questions. I can tell you that this is hula kahiko, the traditional style of hula that Hawaiians danced before contact and influences of Western culture, and not the modern hula (hula ʻauana) that you may be more familiar with from movies, TV, or typical shows for tourists in Waikiki. This hula and chant honor King David (Kawika) Kalākaua, the last king of Hawaiʻi, who brought back traditional Hawaiian music, dance, and culture after it was banned or discouraged by American Christian missionaries and other Western newcomers to the Hawaiian Islands in the 1870s. These dancers and their hālau (school or group), and their kumu hula (hula teachers) are outstanding and have won hula awards and competitions like the Merrie Monarch Festival in both traditional and modern styles. The two dancers in the second dance are the daughters of the kumu (teachers), Tracie & Keawe Lopes, so they probably started dancing from an early age. The hālau accepts children from age three. Here is some more information about the hula if youʻre interested: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hula