Both Men and Women Can Participate in the Hawaiian Hula Dance
The hula, Hawaii’s traditional dance, began as a ceremonial ritual to honor the gods but evolved into a storytelling art form accompanied by movements and chants (mele). Many legends and stories have been passed down through generations via the hula.
Typically, the dance begins with a mele, a chant performed by a male to introduce the story. Afterward, women take the lead, expressing the rest of the story through graceful and expressive movements. However, this gender distinction has not always been the case, as both men and women have participated in the Hawaiian hula dance throughout history.
