John Kaimikaua -- Story, Chant And Dance Of Hula's Origins

He starts with the story of hula on Moloka'i, then chants a song (starting at 2:49 of this clip) with one of the dancers from his Hula Halau (hula school), the Halau Hula O Kukunaokala.

John studied for three years, starting at age 14, with Kawahinekapuheleikapokane--she was 92 at the time, but danced like a young girl and passed many stories, dances, songs and legends and old ways to John.

"When she had given me this knowledge, she left me with a responsibility," he recalled of his late teacher. "Back then I didn't understand what that responsibility was. After I opened my halau, I understood the fullness of that responsibility, which was to enlighten and educate all
people about our culture.

"When she had given me the genealogy and completed my training, she told me, 'This knowledge that I gave to you was once a great and
mighty tree, whose branches spread to all of the islands. And in time, all of the branches died and all that remains is the root. I give to
you this root to plant upon the Earth, to make this tree flourish and grow and spread, as it once was in times past.'

He started his school at age 19, and later founded the annual Moloka'i Ka Hula Piko festival.

Many scholars (of course) question his belief that hula originated on Moloka'i.

Sadly, John passed away last June, age 47, obituary here:
http://starbulletin.com/2006/06/10/news/story06.html

a tribute to him here:
http://kearen.freehostia.com/Kaimikaua.htm

video produced, directed, and edited by Robert Mugge

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Halau
• hawaii
• hawaiian
• Hula
• indigenous
• Kaimikaua
• Kukunaokala
• kumu
• makahiki
• maoli
• Moloka'i
• Molokai
• nahenahe
• piko

[MolokaiBoy4lyph]

Moloka'i Pule o'o

[IslandBoricua92]

RIP uncle!! Mahalo nui loa for posting this video!

[maryd1325]

Lovely--very interesting, very beautiful.

[oOHulaGirlOo]

Wow that is beautiful!! beautiful telling of the story, chant, and hula! Mahalo for posting :)

[kekoa79]

R.I.P. Uncle

[tbaber]

miss you john, you pushed me to the next level of life!

[Kikalani]

Very educational and stirring.

[imuahawaiian13]

Mahalo for sharing. Hanau ia o Maui.

Imua Hawaii Films

[ekazuok]

Aloha, I grow up with John in Aiea I've know him and his family almost my whole life, growing up I use to go to his house and from a young age he told his destiny of being a Kuma Hula,he use tell me all kine Hawaiian stories, miss a good brother and friend, glad to see this video on you tube mahalo for this video.

[wessidewahine]

E MAU LOA AKU!!!