(Hip Hip) Hula

Featuring Hula . The Hawaiian Hukilau Song . Josh Cho . Blue Hawaii . Hula Dance . Little Brown Gal . Ku’U Ipo . Maui Girl . Hmong Hula Dance . Faux Hawaiians . Sophisticated Hula . Sonny Ching . Ke’Anae . Maui . Peter Moon . Alekoki .

Alternative Hawaii : Some believe the hula was only danced by men, but legend and historical sources tells us both men and women danced. Hawaiian hula is unique and totally different from other Polynesian dances.

aloha-hawaii.com : The legend has it that Laka, the goddess of the hula, journeyed from island to island, sharing the dance with all who wished to learn. Each of her graceful movements was layered with spiritual meaning, bringing to life the history, traditions and genealogy of the Hawaiian people.

Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame : Don the Beachcomber engaged Haunani for his Sunday luau shows. At Alfred Apaka’s request, she was the featured female vocalist with him in Waikiki. Haunani appeared in major television shows both in Hawai`i and New York, and recorded albums for Capitol Records, Decca and several other companies.

squareone.org : Called ‘The Dean of Hawaiian Music, John Kamealoha Almeida was born suddenly while his mother was picking maile and the sap from the plant caused his blindness. His vast knowledge and understanding of Hawaiian music led many to his door. Tributes from his pupils continued for years.

Ho’olohe Hou : Joe Keawe is acknowledged as one of the legends of Hawaiian falsetto singing. Yet, inexplicably, only about three of his dozens of singles recorded for the 49th State Records label in the 1940’s and 50’s have been remastered and reissued on CD.

H4 : Long ago, a ship came from Portugal carrying a small four stringed instrument. When the Hawaiians saw a boy playing this instrument, they loved the sound that was coming from it. They also noticed how fast his hands were moving on the strings–like jumping fleas, so the Hawaiians named this instrument “ukulele,” meaning “jumping flea.”

Wikipedia : The big turning point in Harry Owens’ career came in 1934 with his arrival in Hawaii and his appointment as music director of The Royal Hawaiian Hotel. He set to learning all he could about the local culture by mixing and working with native Hawaiians. He learned many traditional and more modern Hawaiian songs and tunes which he wrote down and orchestrated using Western notation for the first time.

New Zealand Music : Jay Epae, real name Nicholas Epae, was a Maori pop vocalist from Manaia, Taranaki. Considering the number of singles he released, he is relatively unknown in New Zealand for his songs, but more remembered as the author of Maria Dallas’s huge first hit, “Tumblin’ Down”.