Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-02-17
THE HULA.IiULA.
Strange Customs of the Natives Of the
Sandwich IsIapds

The hula-hula or native dance of the
Sandwich-Islanders is one of the most
singular and fascinating exhibitions of
the poetry OF motion to be seen among
any of the barbaric or semi-civilized ma
tions of the earth. In the olden time
on all occasions of festivity and JOY the
hula-hula was conspicuous feature.
The king had his own band of expert
dancers, and the hula-hula was brought
to high state of perfection; but on the
advent of the missionaries into the
country and the civilization OF the race
hula-hula began to decline. The iniiu-
ence of the missionaries and of the
really religious of the natives has al
ways been strongly exercised against
its perpetuation, both on account OF its
connection with the old days of idola-
trous worship, and because they think
some portions of the performance un-
seemly and even lewd. A few famous.
dancers still remain, but a public ex-
hibition is never given. At rare inter-
walls private hula-hula is gotten up
and few favored foreigners are invit-
ed to witness the performance.
Twas invited by native chief whose
acquaintance had formed, to go with
him to see 4 real hula-hula, genuine
dance of the good old time.
We entered large room on the floor
of which number OF native spectators
lay stretched on soft mats. Room was
made for us, and we had hardly taken
our seats before a curtain, which was
stretched at the far end of the room was
drawn, and the entertainment COM
menced. First the musicians entered
and sat down on one end of the stage,
which was simply large thick mat, on
three sides of which reclined the spec
tators. The music consisted OF six
drums-three large and three small.
The large ones were enormous Gala
bashes, the heads of which were cover
ed with tightly-drawn skin; the small
ones were cocoanut shells covered in
the same manner.
The leader-a sprightly dame of 20
summers-was very important per-
sonage, as it was her business to direct
the performance by the expression Of
her face and the action of her hands.
Suddenly strange chant was raised,
accompanied by Il beating of the drums
in perfect time. This gradually died
away and two more musicians appear
ed, holding long sticks from which they
ELECTED clear notes by striking them
with shorter ones; these took their
places behind the rest of the orchestra
and
After them, all dancing in row,
The comely virgins came with gariands dight,
All fresh with flowers.
Ten girls, fascinatingly dresse !, with
scarfs bound around their waists and
crowned with garlands of flowers and
with wreaths of gardenias around their
wrists and ankles, made their way with
slow and graceful movements to the
edge of the stage, on which they sank
lust as the music ceased. Some of
these girls were beautiful. and had
softly nodded limbs and figures of ex-
treme grace. At q tap of the drum
they raised themselves to their knees
and commenced wild song to which
they at first beat time by clapping of
the hands. Gradually this changed in
to the most expressive pantomine. The
sticks and drums took up the measure
arms, hands and even fingers spoke
torrents of words with precision that
the best-drilled ballet troupe could nev-
er attain. The body swayed backward
and forward, the slightest motion to
the right or left being repeated by all;
sometimes snake-like and repulsive,
anon seductive and pleasing, until fl
nally wild tossing of the arms, fol-
lowed by low wall, proclaimed the
end OF the story, to the evident dis
comhture OF the maiden, and the trl-
umph OF the lover
During the interval required Tor q
rest, very intricate performance was
gone through by four men and 1our
women, who sat opposite and close to
one another. Each held a bamboo
about two feet and split at the end into
strips. When struck together they
made most pecuiiar sound whlch
formed the accompaniment 10 the song.
Ihe object appeared to be Tor eacn
one to put the other out OF time, In
winch none OF them ever succeeded as
IN Whatever way one thrust the SUCK
the other was sure to 40 exactiy the
same. sometimes prick point by the
men was gracefully parrled by the wo-
men, who retaliated by smart tap on
the head or shoulder. which tho men
never attempted to guard. A distinct
rhyme was kept up all the time by the
oamooos, and as their sound began TO
get somewhat monotonous loud cries
were raised for the "hula-
Inc dancers formed a circle. Each
aeid small caiabash ornamented with
teathers, and with seeds inside, SO that
u could De USED as tamoorine or rat
lie. slowly the ring begins to circle
majestic formal fashion. Soon they