Hula

Kumu hula Victoria "Vicky" Holt Takamine was presented with the prestigious Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize at Washington Place earlier this month. The Conversation talked with her about the award and what it means for Hawaiʻi.

Kumu hula and activist Victoria "Vicky" Holt Takamine was awarded the prestigious Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize. It is given to one person each year, from any art discipline, who has pushed the boundaries of an art form, contributed to social change and paved the way for the next generation.

The announcement comes as the Waikiki Shell closes for electrical upgrades, including lighting improvements and repairs to the orchestra pit seating area. The project will begin in October and is slated to be completed by March.

California-based Kumu Hula Māhealani Uchiyama will bring a hula kiʻi performance to the Honolulu Theatre for Youth on July 20 and 21.

Should we be optimistic about the economy?; How hurricanes imperil rare native birds; Keeping the rare art of hula kiʻi alive

The operator of a lūʻau in a residential area of Honolulu said he plans to continue his business despite city officials ordering him to stop. At the end of February, the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting gave Karl Veto Baker until March 30 to correct the violation. Baker said he created the lūʻau to bring back representation of Hawaiian culture. HPR's Cassie Ordonio has more.

The traditional practice of “going on kapu” allows hula practitioners to cleanse their bodies, their minds and their lives of the unnecessary to really focus on hula. HPR's Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi explains how it differs among hālau.

Hula is not the only Hawaiian tradition honored at Merrie Monarch this week. The festival is paying tribute to the 40th anniversary of the Hawaiian language revitalization movement. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi teachers, students and pioneers were in Hilo to perform on hula's biggest stage. HPR's Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi reports.

Hālau only get seven minutes to perform each number on stage at the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival. To ensure precise timing, some kumu hula on Oʻahu created a replica of the Hilo stage in vacant retail space in Kalihi. HPR’s Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi reports.

The host town of Hilo is preparing for the influx of hula dancers and hula fans to the 61st annual Merrie Monarch Festival. Organizers expect dancers from more than 20 hālau hula across the islands and as far away as California. HPR reporter Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi has this story.