Halau hula

A hālau hula is a school in which the ancient Hawaiian dance form called hula is taught. The term comes from hālau, a workshed, and hula, the traditional dance of the Hawaiian Islands.

There is great variation between hālau. Some focus primarily on ancient styles of hula, others on modern styles, and some study both. Some hālau continue to preserve very strict kapu, sacred protocols, while others are noa, or free of kapu. The styles of hula taught in different hālau also can vary greatly. Styles are passed down from kumu to haumana, and knowledgeable students of hula can tell which hula lineage is represented by watching the dancer's presentation.

Location of hālau also can vary widely, from the garage of the kumu's home to community centers to the lawns of parks, hālau hula can be found dancing wherever there is space and interested students.

The internal structure of hālau hula can vary quite a bit, generally these are led by a kumu hula, whose position is roughly equivalent to that of a headmaster. The kumu is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the style and traditions handed down by the kumu's own kumu. The kumu is responsible for the spiritual integrity of the hālau, and is responsible for instructing students in proper care of their physical well-being by teaching good exercise, dietary, and hygienic practices.

The poʻo puaʻa, or head student, is often the kumu's protégé, and under the direction of the kumu oversees the protocol and rituals of the hālau.

The ʻalakaʻi or "guides" act as teaching assistants, with the more advanced effectively being student teachers. ʻAlakaʻi often will assist less experienced haumana with their lessons, and coach them with the more difficult steps and moves.

Kokua or helpers assist in a variety of areas, from lei making, to helping other haumana dress, making phone calls, fund raising, and helping ʻalakaʻi coach less experienced students.

Haumana, the students, range in age from toddlers to senior citizens.

Prior to European contact, the Hawaiian language had no word for "school", as the concept of a specialized place of instruction did not exist in Hawai`i prior to the arrival of Christian missionaries. Education came from parents, aunts, uncles, and elders, while children who showed promise in a specialized art or craft would be apprenticed to a master and work in the latter's hālau.

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