Hawaiian dance is characteristic of a dance talked with hands. All the songs are stories and the movements are reminiscent of feelings. When words fail, I turn to an art of communication to express the beauty and emotions. Every movement in hula has a specific meaning. And every expression of the dancer's hands has great significance, that can't be expressed with words.

Hula has three purposes: to entertain, to inspire and to instruct. It's the Hawaiian cultural vehicle not just in a historical way but also in a social way. Hula is a vital expression of Hawaiian culture and it is performed throughout the world. Can Hula keep its authenticity outside of Hawaii into other countries and cultures? It can because it's a universal language. It is about feeling the spirit of Hawaii and about giving unconditionally and finding peace within. Hawaiian dance could be whatever you want it to be- a motion as a language or a medium of communicating images, feelings, and beliefs. It doesn't matter who you are, or where you came from, as long as you have love for hula, you are part of it.

Hula Styles

There  are two Hula styles in the Hawaiian dance. Hula Kahiko, or ancient Hawaiian dance, and Hula Auana, or modern Hawaiian dance. On the Hula Kahiko, dancers use traditional costumes, and are accompanied by charting and percussion only. On the Hula Auana, dancers are accompanied by songs and modern instruments as ukeleles, guitars and others. Hula Auana costumes are more simple than Hula kahiko costumes. Most are normal Hawaiian skirts like raphia skirts and tops.

One way to best express my feelings without saying a word is through Hawaiian dance.

To communicate without words requires precise movements of the body. This is where you can feel the passion for dance discipline. It is where you can breathe and recognize the art.

The dances have different meanings and stories. These stories are Islanders' true stories; stories of love, deceit, gods, festivals, and/or nature.