HULA BASICS: THE KĀ‘O

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HULA BASICS: THE KĀ‘O

Learn how to do the hula sway, the kāʻo.

Starting with your feet slightly apart, hands on your hips and knees  slightly bent: sway right & left. This is the kā‘o… moving your hips  from right to left. Keeping both knees bent together, allows you to  push your hips to the sides, right & left.  Keeping your upper body stationary and moving only your lower body,  continue right and left. 

HULA BASICS: THE KĀHOLO

Learn how to dance the hula to the right and left with the 4 step kaholo, swaying your hips.

Starting with your feet slightly apart, both knees bent, hands on your hips… starting on the right: step 1, 2, 3, 4, left 2, 3, 4, right 2, 3, 4, left 2, 3, 4.  Continuing with this 4-count step keeping both knees bent, allows your hips to sway as you kāholo right and left.

HULA BASICS: THE HELA

Learn how to point on the right & left while swaying your hips with the hela.

Starting with both feet slightly apart, knees bent, hands on your hips… pointing right, bring it back, pointing left, bring it back, out at a 45 degree angle, out and back. At the same time, your hips should continue to sway on the opposite side of your hela. 

HULA BASICS: THE KALĀKAUA

Learn how to step and sway your hula hips as you shift your weight forward and back with the kalākaua.

HULA BASICS: THE ‘AMI

Learn how to do the ‘ami - the circular motion using your hips, knees and feet.

The key to the ‘ami is keeping your knees bent and separating your hip movements to keep you upper body from moving as well. Start with an ‘ami to the right that goes in a counter clockwise direction. This is the traditional direction of the ‘ami. Using the four points of the clock, starting at 9:00, 6:0 3 then 12, we will  rotate our hips counter clockwise using those numbers in a fluid motion.

HULA BASICS: THE HULA HAND, PART 1

Want to learn how to do the hula hand? Here is a step by step instruction on the correct way to move you hands in the hula.

HULA BASICS: THE HULA HAND, PART 2

Learn further tips for learning the correct hula hand and where to "look" while dancing your hula.

HULA BASICS: "ALOHA E KOHALA"

Using this beautiful mele about the north side of Hawaiʻi Island, we will practice our timing and steps of the kāholo & kā‘o. Correct arm placement is also introduced with the hula hand as we learn the kāholo "square." This is a great way to warm-up your body and prepare for my other hula lessons.

SONG: "ALOHA E KOHALA" , BROTHERS CAZ

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HULA BASICS: "HE MELE NO LILO"

This video was created as a "warm up" hula routine to practice basic hula steps. In addition, arms are inserted with the kāholo with both a straight hand and the hula hand.

It's a great way for keiki (children) to be introduced to the hula, with a song that they love and recognize, with steps that are easy enough to follow along to.

SONG: "HE MELE NO LILO" , MARK KEALIʻI HOʻOMALU

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HULA BASICS WITH AUDIO PROMPTS: "HE MELE NO LILO"

Use this same routine to warm up your hula steps by listening to the audio prompts for each step.  

SONG: "HE MELE NO LILO" , MARK KEALIʻI HOʻOMALU amazon affiliate link:

HULA BASICS: WARM-UP #1

Practice your hula basics to the beat of the ipu heke: kāʻo, hela & kāholo. You can use this video each time as a warm up before starting to learn a choreographed hula. Learn the following hawaiian phrases:

• makaukau: get ready
• hoʻomakaukau: are you ready?
• ʻae: yes

HULA BASICS: WARM UP #2

Here's a video of advanced hula basics with ipu, to help you warm up & practice your hula skills. Try it twice or three times in a row for a great workout!

HULA BASICS: THE ‘UWEHE

Learn how to do the ‘uwehe. This is one of the more advanced hula steps.

Click on the video to access our FREE online hula lessons.

HULA BASICS: THE LELE ‘UWEHE

Once you've learned the ‘uwehe, try this step - the lele ‘uwehe! This is another advanced hula step.

Click on the video to access our FREE online hula lessons.