Basic Hula Steps and terms

'Ami - Rotation of hips
Hela - Step one foot 45 degree angle to the front/side Repeat step on the other side
Ka' 0 - Lift hip and heel up starting with the left side.
Kaholo - 4 beat steps to the right, returning to the left
'Uwehe - One foot is lifted with weight shifting to the opposite both knees are then pushed forward or outwards.
Kaholoholo - 8 beat steps to the right, returning to the left
Kiholo - back step
'Ami kuku - two slow 'ami followed by three fast in the same direction.
Kawelu, kalakaua - one foot taps time with the heel, the toes being stationary while the other foot, flat position, steps forward and back, the same distance, 2 or more times. The step is repeated, reversing feet.
Wawae Ki' i - right foot points to the right side (3:00), front (1:00), back position with the left foot, Left foot repeats the same movements, side (9:00), front (11:00), back into position on the opposite side.

Hula Steps : 6 - 10

6. 'Ami' Ami, 'Ami poepoe - jerking motion of the hips back and forth in a crude and bulgar manner

7. 'Ami kahela, 'Ami poepoe - hips rotates with the weight on the right hips as the left heel lifts very slightly, the nreversing this action

8. 'Ami kuku - like the 'ami kahela except the revolutions are smaller, faster and in groups of three; sometimes combined with two slower kahele revolutions.

9. 'Ami ku' upau (uninhibited) - rapid revolution of the hips in the ha' a; an uninhibited 'ami, like in a Tahitian dance

10. 'Ami ' oniu (spinning) - figure-eight ha' a step; the revolving hips ('ami) form an "8"with the weight shifting.

Hula Steps : 1 - 5

1. 'Ai - dancing style or type


2. 'Ai 'am1 - type of ha' a with littel foot movement throughout the dance


3. 'Ai ' ha' a - hula step excuted with bended knee


4. 'Ai ' kawele, Kawele - ha' a step; one foot makes a half circle forward and to the side without touching the floor; usually in combination with other steps as the holo or 'uwehe; used in "A ko' ulau Au"


5. 'Ami - rotation of hips

Hawaiin Hula

Hula is the traditional dance of the Hawaiian Islands. It was once both a religious exercise in honor of the goddess Laka and also their form of entertainment. In traditional hula, poems and stories were interpreted by highly stylized movements of the dancers arms and hands. Although the angelic dances of old Hawaii have almost disintegrated and bear little resemblance to the modern forms of hula, the modern hula also tells a story. The out spread arms of the dancer represents the swaying of the palm trees gently blown by the wind. To be able to convey the story to the audience the dancer has to coordinate the facial expression and the eye with the graceful movements of the fingers, arms, wrists, hips, knees and feet.

ULI' ULI : Feather Gourd Rattle Dance

For hula uli' uli the top of the handle just under the brightly colored feathers is held loosely between the thumb and fingers of the right hand. With a loose wrist, the dancer shakes the gourd, which is partially filled with tiny pebbles or seeds, and taps it lightly against the palm of the free left hand, on the lap and on the shoulder.

PU' ILI : Split Bamboo Dance

For the hula pu' ili a dancer holds the closed end of the bamboo for a handle. With a loose wrist he rattles the long narrow strips by striking the split ends against the hand shoulder and mat.

PA IPU : Gourd Dance

For hula pa ipu, the dancer holds the gourd (ipu) with his left hand and slaps (pa'i) it with right hand in a definite rhythmic pattern.