Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1884-08-16
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Honolulu, August IS, 1884,
~ Deiy -
have seen my df,, hula hula, AMI do not
mcan y shall I've my last The o,casion ~as
pleasant affair held the other night a little
way out of town. Indulge me in giving you
short account of the dance ! remember your
prcjudiced description of the dance CLEANED at
second hand from some oi your blgoted mis-.
sionay friends, and want you 10 understand
the actual facts of the matter, 80 that You can
explain To those dreadiully straight laced men
tors how lar away from the truth they are,
Let me picture the scene. A big tent had
been pitched, say IS 10y IS, and the eround car
pctrd with ingeniously woven Hawaiian mats.
Seats had been placed around . hollow
square, in which the dancing took place.
tolorcd lanterns, .ircamcf and grcen,ry
Enlightened the picture. 10 assure you u the
perfect respcctabilty of the scene, may
mention that among the audience were the
king OF these islands, several members II the
San Francisco Bohemian Club, hall dozen
members Of the Hawaiian legislature, in
tludmg at least one noble, and enough law
yery aud newspaper men to give the scene Al
once an lir oi splendid good fellowship and
YET Of thoroughly high character
The chief dancers were two Hawaiian girl'
dressed In white with chapets OF 1oweu
around their iorhhcads. Wrralhs tcllcd
- lcs "-, national featured around thcil
necks, white waists, short red skirts, ant
anklcls of feathers. They were accompanied
by 4 tail, robust, finely proportioncd native
who played ior them to dance, using 10y turns
three instruments caabash drum on ~hicl
he beat with his fingers. mouth harp and .
BANJO.
| The dance was preecdedhya Uncle, an lla
waiian chan, Of praise to the king, sung in asoi
| ye, perfectly clear tone, which quite charmed
me. was pleased to notice also, that dis
tinguished musician present was so impressed
by This music, and by that Of the mouth harp
! that he wrote ont the tunes, on fly leaves %
his note book.
After chanting their mele the young girls
began to move their arms and sway ,heir
bodies in an agreeable and graceful fashion
keeping admirable time with the music in 4
manner thoroughly expressive of the refining
and clcvating character Of Polynesian dane
ing AN idea which your missionary friend
seem not to have gIasped.
As the music increased in speed, the dane
inc became faster and the motions more grace
fully expressive. The spectators were st
gratiiied 10y the pleasing efforts OF the young
girls that many OF them, especially SOM
members Of the wealthy wing Of the Bohem
ian Club, threw on the floor halves anc
quarters Of the bright new Spreckels coinage
which has already proven such boon TO thi'
country. These coins were gathered 10y
charming old Hawaiian lady, clad in a dove
coored dress and decked with flowers, VIII
sat on the floor during the dancing and as
sisted the girls to remember their steps, mucl
as prompter assists actors.
After the girls had finished their first dance
three men, native, a young gentleman Q
mixed parentage, and lad whom should b
proud TO think fellow Californian, danced tn
masculine hula hula, which, il less graceful, i
not less merry and animated. One OF tn
dancers was crowned with flowers after III
dance, and all three won frequent and appre
cialive applause.
I I,cnr;iN. sh.. ,,th.r as
though different in detail, the general plan q
movement was the same. But must no
fail to describe one pleasant feature Of the EN-
teranmcn,. Al the close of several of tn
dances, the girls tripped merely forward to tn
front seats, and, swiftly and dextrously eacl
leaped each into the lap Of spectator, ant
sat there, coy and madcnly, amid much ad
miration, and, perhaps, some little jealous.
on part of those less favored.
left about midnight, and did not therefor
see all the dancing, which | am told, wa
even more interesting towards morning. Blu
trus, have sufficiently investigated and dc
scribed this much misunderstood dance /,
disabuse your mind Of false impressions.
In conclusion, ] cannot but quote the amen
ded and improved quotation of thorough
high-toned spectator. As was leaving III
tent, heard him say, soto vocf :" To tn
pure, all things are puie--evsn AMa-Aaia
| agree with him perfectly. And you ma,
assure my friends that, while my education a
a sight seer is not being neglected, my moral
are in perfectly safe hands.