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Hula Dancing Influence On American Culture

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Hula dancing, a Polynesian dance that in traditional form dramatizes a song specifically through arm movements and hand gestures, has expanded beyond Hawaiian shores and has introduced island movements to the world. Since the early 1970’s traditional Hula dancing has provided islander communities with the ability to tie together body movements with homeland recollections and personal experiences. Originally, Hula was seen as a ritual and cultural dance which was developed by polynesians who settled in the islands of Hawaii.“Through hula dances and songs, memories of people and events endure long after they have passed” (Stillman 2001). As time passes Hula dancing has had a dramatic impact on Western cultures and as a result Hula dancing has …show more content…

“Commodified Hawaiian culture- the “hula,” “the hula girl”, and “aloha”- became part of the American vernacular and everyday life.”
Adria L., Imada "Introduction Aloha America." In Aloha America: Hula Circuits through the U.S. Empire (Durham: Duke University Press, 2012), 5.
Hawaiian culture and ways have deeply influenced Americans and has sparked a start of festivals and competitions in the United States. Hula competitions are a main attraction for the American audience and other cultures as well. Competitions in the tropical state of Hawaii take place during season festivals and consistently capture the attention of a big crowd. Although competitions provide entertainment for a crowd and a place to tell a story for dancers, there are many other ways that hula dancing is displayed to people who are greatly interested in this graceful style of dancing. Many hotels and resorts around Hawaii have Hula performances for their guests to help them get a good feel for the Hawaiian culture. Another popular way that Hula is performed is at a luau, a traditional Hawaiian feast that is full of island vibes and also has entertainment. Luaus, festivals and ceremonies are all ways that Hula dancers are able to connect with their audience on an intimate level. “Hula is a site of cultural memories” (Stillman 2001). Not only do these dancers get to connect with people through dance but they also get to express apart of them and share their cultural background through hand gestures, movement of the hips, music and facial

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