The Haumana Hula Handbook for Students of Hawaiian Dance: A Manual for the Student of Hawaiian Dance

AgreatresourceforstudentsoftraditionalHawaiiandance,thisbeautifulhandbookfilledwitharchivalphotographscoverstheorigins, language,etiquette,ceremonies,andthespiritualcultureofhula.Hula,theindigenousdanceofHawai'i,preservessignificantaspectsof NativeHawaiianculturewithstrongtiestohealthandspirituality.KumuHula,personswhoareculturallyrecognizedhulaexpertsand educators,maintainandsharethisculturaltradition,conveyingHawaiianhistoryandspiritualbeliefsinthisuniqueformofculturaland creativeexpression,comprisingspecificcontrolledrhythmicmovementsthatenhancethemeaningandpoetryoftheaccompanying songs.Emphasizingtheimportanceofculturalliteracy,theHandbookbeginswithanoverviewoftheoriginsofhula,itshistoryinHawai'i,and theprimacyofthespiritualfocusofthedance.Thebookgoesontointroducehalauetiquetteandpractices,andexplainstheformatofa traditionalhulapresentation,togetherwiththegenresofhulaandtheregaliawornbythedancers.Practicalcomponentsinclude sectionsonHawaiianlanguageandchantandaglossaryofhulacommandsandfootwork.AuthorMahealaniUchiyamatrainedinHawaiiinthehulalineageofJosephKamoha'iKaha'ulelioandiscurrentlytheKumuHulaatthe HalauKuUaTuahineinBerkeley,California.AsthefounderandartisticdirectoroftheCenterforInternationalDanceandboardmember ofDanceArtsWest,theproducersofSanFrancisco'sannualEthnicDanceFestival,Uchiyama'sapproachtohulaisdeeplyholisticand reflectsherbackgroundinindigenouswisdomtraditionsandculturalexchangeandinteraction.