A hula lesson

[texasgramz]

Gotta agree with krystalrandoldph...everything she said is true. What is irritating is that this woman's (teacher?) documentary shows beautiful dancers in pa'u, but these olapa belong to Mark Ho'omalu. It's great that OTHER people want to learn and teach our culture, but at least get it right. Pu'ili sticks from coconut trees...girl, you funny. Just saying!

[Bluspy11]

lol good try girls

[tiNAbEbS]

i ThiNk iT'S WONdERfUl hOW ThESE YOUNG GiRlS ARE UP tO STEPPiNG OUt Of ThEiR bOX & TRYiNG tO lEARN SOMEThiNG ThEY kNOW NOThiNG AbOUT & tO TRY SOMEThiNG kNEW ! (: bUT WhAT i ThiNk iS REAllY iGNORANT iS , iT SEEMS LYkE ThEiR " kUMU " OR WhAT EVER ThE hEll ShE ThiNkS ShE iS , iS jUST ShOWiNG Off . & iT SEEMS LYkE ShE dOESN'T GENUiNElY CARE tO TEACh , bECAUSE ThiS iS DEfiNATElY NOt A SONG TO TEACh bEGiNERS ! & WhEN ShE WAS DANCEiNG ShE WAS iN A WAY ShOUTiNG & hER VOiCE jUST iS iRRAhS * ;

[blackanime2]

@ikaika1958 I didn't finish. I myself respect and love you're culture, so I am learning it the way it should be. But looking at comments like yours, makes me lose respect for you're people, you're culture, and and the dance itself. Think of your ancestors would they be proud of you acting the way you do, towards girls who are only LEARNING!! I doubt you're ancestors would act the way you're being, no disrespect to your ancestors. Learn to be appreciative. I don't even normally talk this way.

[tazzielala]

Love that song!! My Kumu sings it alot faster tho. Check out vids on my page 2 see our Halau in action. We perform on a weekly basis && our halau is open to the public. The main thing the teacher got wrong is the Pu'ili is a split bamboo stick && would have been much easier 2 learn the hula dance if she taught the basics first. Good job tho!!!

[babsrubarb]

My friend is trying to interest me in hula. I came across this video and was appalled by the comments. Esp. from people from Hawaii and might have learned hula. Maybe she does now know what she is talking about, so what other classes/school are around. The answer..none. Four are 6-8 hours and one 3 hours drive from Long Island, one in New York City. This woman is it, Shame on you for not showing support, for the best we have. How about you come and teach it here if it is so important to you.

[funkedafied143]

this is your first time.. Cool. you show interest in learning hula.. research. find a respected, LEGIT hula instructor that will teach you the right ways.

we should be glad the ha'ole is interested in learning hula especially all the way from long island! dont know about you but i dont know any kumu hulas in the east coast. But i do understand how important hula is in our culture therefore its a sensitive subject..

she just didnt know.. give her a brake..

-Keola

[LeCharlsMcDaniel]

to cheryl i kno you think we are trying to be mean but when you see a video of someone trying to teach others of your culture but you see she doesnt even kno her implements correct names and what they are made of...lol the pu'ili stick are made of bamboo but bamboo come from bamboo not the base of a coconut TREE....hahah If you were Hawaiian and a proud Hawaiian would you not be mad if someone was disgracing your culture flaunting around saying they'r a professional Hula Dancer. i dont think so

[Kaluaokalani]

Mahalo for posting this video. My first kumu hula was John Ka'imikaua. My second kumu was O'brian.... WTF are you Hawaiians saying negative crap for? Before any of you say shit about race you better check yourselves first! We as modern Hawaiians are a mixed race! I apologize for the idiots on here. But all cultures have idiots.

[kaimanakaai]

kalamai ia'u na haumana. We are not condeming you the students and lordy we are not racist. We are a melting pot of the Pacific. It all falls on the instructor not the students. But this is not the type of dance beginners should learn. Feel free to comment 'cuz it's true. Island girl born & raised & proud. E ala e.... btw, my atta half is Samoan. Laie!!!

[kaimanakaai]

If you are going to learn how to hula learn it correctly. We are very prod of our culture. First of all, you learn a little history abt the song and sing the song over & over and then it is always proper to learn feet movements before hand movements. Even if it takes an hour just to learn the feet movements first and the tempo. No puili's just yet. Use hand movements maybe another hour, k-den, na haumana ready for the puili's. Always pick a dance you think the students will pick up fast. Aloha

[appleJUICEomg]

wtf bamboo sticks made from coconut trees. bulai

[kaimanakaai]

@appleJUICEomg too funny, first she said they were bamboo & then from the trunk of the coconut tree. hellooooo. This Aunty needs to learn more.

[keagirl77]

aue!everything in this video is wrong!..the teacher needs to learn how to oleo hawaii ans to everyone else, no she most definantly did NOT! go through `uniki. the instruments area explained WRONG!!!!!! this video makes me want to cry...and yes the girls did pretty good for a first time but that's all im agreeing with here. Other than that this vidoe should not be on here for the local people to see! haha ALOHA!:)

[skupihea]

okay i know there 12 years old girls but wat in the world is this lady doing.. and let me just say hula is a big part of hawaiian history. so if your going to dance/teach it you should doit right!! decent human being .hahahaha. b4 you start talking shit you really need to go take some hawaiian history class's. thene youll see y we fucking hate ha'ole's!!!

[jkkamai]

Pretty good, considering. It would've been better to have start class off with an easy hapa haole song. HI na keiki don't start learning the pu'ilis (bamboo) until their proficient with their basic feet/hand movements. Teacher definitely has a 'local' island accent; long island that is. ;)

[ratherfam]

Hula lessons long Island? Where? She is beautiful/girls adorable...fine program..

[PalikirPass]

kalapogi! Godou e hai beleiaha ginia dama anei.

Nice!

[Twilight1086]

Is da instructor even a Kumu Hula?!

[Twilight1086]

Haha this is so Haole! I'm from da island and have danced my whole life.. this recording is a disgrace! But at least they learned a thing or two about da culture... but teaching them to dance... eh?

[kelii777]

He mau kala'au na kala'au apau. 'O puniu ka inoa o ka pahu e noho ma ke kuli. Ua pono 'o ia e a'o i ka hula ma ka makahiki iwakaluakumalima ma mua o ke a'o 'ana. Ho'ike ka lima i ka mo'olelo, paku'i ke kulana i ka mana.

All sticks are kala'au, not just the the two different sizes... The knee-drum is the puniu...Most teachers dance for 25 years before they even teach. The hands tell the story, the stance adds the power. It is equally important, and can't be comapared to sign language!

[litara2326]

Kia Ora e hine! I would love to learn the hula and the history of the dance as my ansectors originate from Hawaii.

[cherly900]

well they did get better... it was their first lesson they are not professionals. They are 12 year old girls having a good time learning something new!

[hunniebunniecakes]

i said i have nothing against u or ur group...i was just saying.

[oracletigereye]

I agree with Cherly900. Having been doing the hula and studying it for years I can honestly say there's nothing to scold about. Everyone starts out learning. Even the great Kumu Hula (Hula Masters, the official teachers on Hawai'i) had to start out from the very beginning. This is what it says it is: a documentary about beginning hula lessons. I found it well done.

[blackanime2]

@hunniebunniecakes wow, you are something else. >=(

did you watch this video with a blindfold on or something, did you have you're eyes closed or what???

I highly doubt those who dance Hula professionally will scold these girls, who are learning, and if they do, they seriously have to come down with their pride for their culture... seriously!!

yeah this was two years ago, but honestly!!

[neo579]

To clarify- I have nothing bad to say about the girls in the video...they are children and seem to be trying to learn as best as they can. My issue is with the teacher. I find it offensive that she has the nerve to teach hula, to children or anyone for tht matter when she clearly has not seriously studied it. It really is shameful. I have nothing against white people dancing hula, as long as it is done properly and with dignity.

[k1sto]

Hawaii is part of Polynesia,

Luckydirtbag look at the atlas Hawaii to New Zealand to Easter Island back to Hawaii make up the Polynesian Trigangle. So the Islands within are all Polynesian Islands. There are some located outside of the Island such as Fiji. We consider them as Polynesians because the Tongans took over those islands for many years.

Hawaiians come in all shapes and sizes... So she has some Hawaiian blood in her. Im glad she wants to teach and learn so that everyone can learn...

[islandbby8o8]

god job even though it doesnt look right still keep up the good work.. an yuh dumb shit if yuh were smart yes hawaii is part of the polynesian islands

[luckydirtbag]

I like how she tries to pass herself off as "part hawaiian". sorry, but the "polynesian islands" are not hawaii. She's obviously italian.

[makamae78]

Defenetly Long Island and Hawaii are two very diferent islands very far away in with this type of "hula" makes even a mooorreee big difference! shame on her jazzy hula

[HendrixGirl4270]

...oh yes. the bamboo sticks made from the trunk of the coconut tree. right...

just let her teach hula cause she's not teaching like professional hula or sth xD her class could be just for like improving some qualities of the mind and body ;p

[squeeky805]

I give them an "A" for effort! But I give her an "F" for teaching! Her information is incorrect! Her pronounciation of the implements are incorrect as well! Don't teach if you don't know! She has no business teaching!

[JJBE]

For some reason, I feel like these people don't even know Hawaiians are their own race.

[krystalrandolph]

1.halau does not mean school, kula means school

2.you dont have to be accepted to dance usually you just ask the kumu(teacher)if you can try

3.puili are not made of cocunut trunks they are made of slit bamboo

4.the 'ili'ili are river rocks,not lava rocks,that have to be a certain size shape and color

5.the gourds are called 'ipu and the one that has two heads are called 'ipu heke

6.half of the moves you did werent even what we do in hawaii

and i should know because i grew up in hula in hawaii

[gingerbread32]

howli these days..haha

[misskanitha]

it's haole. =]

[waisaiboi242]

jeez laweez anty! you couldn't do someting easy like huki lau?!

[MichelleATurk]

great job on this cheryl!i cant believe how many people have written such nasty comments. its nice to see the girls actually trying though lol.

[wessidewahine]

HAHAHAHA.....WTF!!!! WHAT IS SHE TALKING ABOUT? PU'ILI "MADE FROM THE TRUNK OF THE COCONUT TREE" AFTER SHE JUST CALLED IT BAMBOO!! HOW CAN SHE SAY THAT? i WANNA SEE HER GENEALOGY TREE.....FOR 'OHANA AND HULA!!

[DaynaLynnKanilehua]

oh, and

E OLA MAU KA MO'OMEHEU HAWAI'I!!!

peace.

[dianaschnuth]

I don't think anyone's mentioned this yet, but I thought you did a great job with the editing, for the most part. I hope you got a good grade on this!

I just got back from my very first Hawaiian vacation, and the girls in the video did just about as well (if not better) than the female tourists who went up on stage at the luau to "learn the hula!"

[kennycreeper]

Great video, putting it onto my live journal video of the day community for others to enjoy! Thank you for sharing!

[r0xi3s]

Maika'i no!!! i am hawaiian and i'm sorry for the rude comments. no we are not all like dat. i promise! :o) Hawaiians have always shared our culture so this is good to me. I've grown up dancing hula after all that is who i am. btw...good job with making this video. :o)

[asile4321]

Thank you for the video, I'm new at teaching on the main land and it's hard to get the information across and sound interesting. The girls did a great job and payed more attention than adults do.  Good for you!!!

[shalapan]

I just want to say you that what you are doing is great just continue like this....

[jskhawaii2006]

You guys did great! I danced hula and tihitian when I was younger. Its not easy at all.

[leikaimana]

I think that these so called "locals" from Hawai'i who think they know it all are a bunch of rude hypocrites!!! Do you all really know the meaning of ALOHA???? My family is FROM O'ahu, Hawai'i, and for you to comment these nasty things about these girls is pathetic!! Keep up the good work girls!!!! I hula too, and it is hard!!! It's a great work out though!!

[meemah15]

I think it is such an honor weather dance is authentic er not...that our beautiful culture has touched soo many people near and far. they have captured our aloha spirit...priceless.. i'm sure theres a few islanders who never danced. great job on keeping our culture ALIVE!!!

[kauihana]

hapa ha'ole.....its ok though sista ! you get one hawaiian blood in you, then be proud of who you are. The hawaiian race is a dying race with only 30,000 full blooded hawaiians in existance. So with da kine ignorant people leaving rude comments on the video, they are ignorant. Even though you get part hawaiian in you, be proud of that.

ALOHA O'E

representing the kauihana family !!

[Aphrodite2009]

Some of the comments on here are DISGUSTING, I have never been to Hawaii but I would be proud of an island with such a beautiful culture and Mucsic to match. People who are rude and ignorant should be put out of their misery.

Well done girls and I KNOW I would be proud.

Take Care

Pamela-Michelle

[OhMyWoRd48]

why is there a narrator???!!

[cherly900]

Because it was an assigned documentary... and they had no clue what the were doing. It's not like skilled professionals were doing a performance.

[ikaika1958]

Auwe! ....Ka po`e HA`OLE! HA`OLE! HA`OLE! HIU! NO AKK! Fricken Worms!!!!

[cherly900]

People say New Yorker's are mean... Hawaiians are mean!!! These are 12 year old girls trying to do something new for the FIRST time... lets see you come up here, try to ski and I'll video tape you while you break a leg and laugh maybe I'll curse you out in a different language so you don't know what I'm saying either. Grow up and try to learn how to be a DECENT human being.

[DaynaLynnKanilehua]

Hula is considered sacred in Hawai'i. When westerners came to our islands, the dance was banned and Hawaiians were punished for doing it. So could you see why it would be important to us for it to be practiced properly?

I do agree that people should stop being IMMATURE IDIOTS and grow up.

There are local people/Hawaiians that dont even WANT to try learning.

THAT is sad. you jerks should be yelling at THEM for not PERPETUATING the Hawaiian culture rather than bashing this video for being

[DaynaLynnKanilehua]

incorrect.

I do have to say, though, this woman should not be teaching hula. There is a protocol to becoming a kumu hula, hula teacher. Dancers must 'uniki (kind of like graduating) after being trained by their kumu hula. Only then are they to teach hula.

My advice would've been to go to someone who was trained properly and accurately,

in order to obtain an accurate video.

As commented previously, half the things she said were incorrect.

[DaynaLynnKanilehua]

Other than that, great video.

'O wau iho no,

Kanilehua

[d3wCeeJa3]

@cherly900 skiing does not have a meaning behind it tho....

u need to understand that many pacific cultures have nearly been lost due to colonisatin and christianity..hula like many other pacfic island dancers have deep rooted meaning, stories and mana behind them...u sed that...much of the hawaiian culture has been exploited..so watch wat u say

[kentuckypineapple]

@cherly900 This is terrible. I grew up dancing (18 years of hula,) and I was appalled. Coconut trunks!? Have you SEEN a coconut tree? Geez. This woman should be taken out back and beat with a pu'ili (like a lot of us in Hawaii were) for teaching others these LIES. This woman sounds like she grew up on the East Coast, and it seems that she knows very little, if anything, about our culture. And why are they playing MKH's song at the end? He'd be horrified! BTW, I can Ski VERY well.

[kentuckypineapple]

Dancing 18 years, teaching 15!? I should have been teaching at 6 years old, then! Sheesh... This woman is ridiculous...

[MichelleATurk]

@ikaika1958 The girls are not doing this to be professional dancers...they are just trying to raise money for children's hospitals. They work ALL summer just to learn one or 2 dances.

I think all of the people who are complaining about this are racist. God forbid people show a slight interest in something different to them! These kids are from Long Island...this is completely foreign to them! Bless them for trying!

[blackanime2]

@ikaika1958 yeah imma say it, you Hawaiins need to calm the f@%k down. You should be grateful your culture will not die soon, because so many love it and appreciate it, while so many other cultures are dying or are already gone. If you guys want to keep the Hawaiin culture strictly to Hawaiins only and be conservative that way, well for one that;s not gonna happen, two if it did, I would love for you guys to watch it die and repent for being so high up your asses with pride.

[rchs4me]

WHO wears shoes????

Part Hawaiian...which part?

Horrible representation....

I can't believe you used Mark's video for

your commentary!!!!

[leikaimana]

That Mark Keali'i video is from Lilo and Stitch I'm sure of it... and YOU should watch it rchs4me, and listen to what HE has to say about those who want to learn HULA!!!!

[rchs4me]

Get rid of the profanity...

POOR representation of the WHITE culture!!!

[kekoax3]

that is NOT hula

[chellyx30]

hula. . . you guys did well for beginners

i miss the islands. im from maui.

kinda sucks to be an island girl stuck on the main land - -"

[TraderGTS]

okay that kinda suck we hawaiians do not hula like that! when u hula dance u r telling a story with ur hands!

[cuz0were0board]

uhh you know what I found that very rude if you "hawaiians" are like that then I'm glad Im not there. And they are just learning! and they are learning a dance from another caulture that isn't easy so next time why dont you shut up and sympathize with how hard these girls were working!

[GearRocks]

What are those sticks , called I've seen them before.

[gingerbread32]

they are bamboo sticks

[LisaKillsYou]

This is a sacred dance I agree, but as long as they come in with respect. We're all human yeah?

[kynkin12]

good effort =]]]

[kshootzden]

'A'ole maika'i keia, aka, makemake au ke hele ma'o no ka mea noho au ma Long Island i keia manawa! Makemake au ke nana na haole!!

[lusilala]

Baby, I would Like to Apologize, on behalf of Some of our People, its, just that the Hula is Considered Sacred, to us, but Like I said Earlier, good for you guys and God Bless All of You.

[lusilala]

Hey Sister, It Might not be as Authentic. I must give all of you Girls 2 thumbs Up just for the Effort and all the Hard Work that all of you had put into it. and I would just like to say, Na Ke Akua E Hoopomaikai ia Oukou A Me Ko Oukou Ohana Me Ke Aloha Apau.

[AuntieeWiah]

HAOLES cant hula!

[cherly900]

I think you might be cursing me out in Hawaiian... not cool, and these girls are 12 years old and definitely don't even know how to dance, at least they are trying!

[kuinihau18]

Haole is not a bad word fyi

[kuinihau18]

Hawai'i is a part of polynesia. That's why we're called polynesian. But yeah it's weird with her italian accent. At least she's "part" some kumu's aren't up there.

[Melekini49]

@kuinihau18 That's not an Italian accent. that's a Long island accent.

[lusilala]

Cuzins Please! E hooluolu ia oe me ka Hoomalu ia. Please Baby Lets Show them Peace. they not knowing it right, is a good thing, because (Ka Hula Ihi Ihi Ma'o Kakou)

[kaulanagirltia]

@AuntieeWiah No disrespect AuntieeWiah at all, But I am Haole and was born and raised in Maui and have danced hula since I was 3, I am 29 now! I love the Hawaiian islands, people and loved growing up in the culture. I am sad that I am not Hawaiian by blood. I take much pride in coming from Hawaii!

Like I said, no disrespect what so ever. just wanted to share my story wit you! Aloha e malama pono!

[kahoohanohanopa]

stupid haoles

[lusilala]

Cuz, E Maluhia Ia Oe, Na Ke Akua Wehe Ae I na Puka O ke Ala Maikai. Let these babies go. even if the Lady Ho'opunipuni, You know the ways of our people, let not bitterness flow from our lips, for what comes out of our mouth comes from the Heart, and You know us Cuz Nui Kealoha, Much Love and Peace. Sorry!

[CelaLeilaniTonga19]

White girls can't hula j/k NOT

[cpbluegenius]

it looks exactly like my couin i ment to say sorry

[cpbluegenius]

wow thats so wierd i watch this and guess who i see in the buetiful skirt MY COUSIN lol

[cherly900]

who's your cousin?

[HulaDiva102]

This is hula--sopranos' style!

[neo579]

First of all this woman has no business teaching hula, when she doesn't even know what hula is. Teaching hula is not something you decide you want to do. You have to study from a hula master- only if your teacher decides that you are worthy to become a teacher, will you be given permission to teach hula.

[neo579]

What I witnessed in this video was not hula. There was not a single recognizable basic hula step in the entire disaster of a dance. The only thing that is Hawaiian in this video are the pu`ili- which are not sticks and are not made from a coconut trunk.

[nzhulalady]

you obviously dont know hula so you have no right to give such a negative comment-both steps are hula steps-where is your aloha spirit

[neo579]

Though I would never claim to know everything there is to know about hula, I possess a deep understanding of hula which I continue to acquire through intense training from a hula master. So, I ask you what are the names of the hula steps that I cannot identify that you are talking about in this dance when you accuse me of not knowing hula? And as far as aloha spirit is concerned, I have no aloha for people perpetuating the prostitution of my culture.

[noelani82]

I think they were doing mostly kawelu/kalakaua (stepping forward and backwards). Looks hard for beginners, the song was so fast, I don't think the dancers were able to keep up and fell apart, making it kinda unrecognizable. The lady makes a good effort at cultural education, even though her accent makes it hard for her to pronounce the language. Knowledgable kumu unfortunately are far and few between, up here on the east coast.

[neo579]

Thank goodness the woman did not reveal who her teachers were they would be embarrassed to see their student making a complete ass of her self and then broadcasting it for the world to see. Do yourself and the Hawaiian Culture a favor. STOP!

[kimokekahuna]

way too complicated for first lesson.. better to start with just the basics.. but good to see Longisland learning Hawaiian culture, share the aloha.. share the peace.. live aloha each day

[littleboyconfsd]

......Well done in trying to further the Hawaiian Culture. Go to your Kumu for any questions when in doubt go back to the source. Aloha Remember you represent your Kumu and all that has gone before them. REPRESENT WELL and PONO (RIGHT)! Auwe no ho'i e!

[littleboyconfsd]

Aloha,

Yes, What the hell are they doing?LMAO! First Lesson: Research First, Angelina Puili are made from bamboo not coconut trunk. Ili Ili are river bed rocks not lava rocks. Lesson two:Represent well. Thank you for clearing that the Olelo or language is important.....continued on next comment...

[PwInceSsaHkS]

she's got polynsian hair man lol she is part hawain yep yep

[animelover2772]

I already know how to hula I know the hula basics because I take hula... I mean it! I swear!! I know that bending your knees is a big part in hula.

[sixthonedown]

I loved your video, I'm having an Hawaaiian party for my 6 yr olds birthday, thanks for the tips, Jane from Tamworth Australia

[ribesnero]

Uhhh I'd love to learn dancing the hula!

[XbepslilgurlX]

doing the sticks is easy 4 me tho.i kno how to use most of the instruments. ive been dancing 4 6 years.

[animelover2772]

did you people notice that most of the girls aren't bending their knees! that is a BIG step in hula.

[Redpine]

The video clips were taken from the movie "Lilo and Stitch," and the hula dancers featured are with the Academy of Hawaiian Arts, Kumu Hula Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu, of Oakland, CA. Please give credit when you use someone else's work!!!

[misskanitha]

Mahalo for that.

[PinoyCowboyka788]

hey that's really cool!

[bakemeaturtle]

ah! i love it. really cool. i wanna take some hula lessons. looks way fun.