Research Guides: Chronicling America: Historic Newspapers from Hawaiʻi and the U.S.: Hula

Topics in Chronicling America - Hula

Timeline

Pre-1778: The Native Hawaiians developed their traditional dance hula, which was associated with religious practices. The hula's chants express stories, genealogy, and history of the Hawaiian people.

January 1778: In the first observance of hula by foreigners, European explorer Captain James Cook and his crew watched a hula Kālaʻau performance on the island of Kauaʻi.

1819: Kamehameha II abolished the kapu system. A royal decree prohibited the worship of Hawaiian gods, and heiau (temples) and images of gods were destroyed. Hula loses its traditional context, although the dance continued to be performed.

1820:The missionaries arrived in Hawaiʻi

1830: Influenced by the missionaries and converted to Christianity five years before, Queen Regent Kaʻahumanu banned public performances of hula.

May 1851: Under the first law in Hawaiʻi

1860s: Because hula was discouraged, it was taught secretly during this time.

1870: The restriction on hula was eased, as the government reduced the fees, fines, and penalties for performing hula and allowed public performances outside of Honolulu and Lāhainā.

1883: King David Kalākaua's love of hula resulted in the revival of the dance. Kalākaua had hula performances for various events including the celebration of his coronation ceremonies in 1883 and his fiftieth birthday in 1886 (King's Jubilee).

1920s: With the rise in the tourist industry in Hawaiʻi, Hula ʻAuana, the westernized hula, was performed on tourist shows and hollywood films, with melodic songs, string instrument accompaniment, and sensual gestures.

1964: George Lanakilakekiahialiʻi Naʻopeu started the Merrie Monarch Festival, a three-day hula competition, which played an important role in the Hawaiian Renaissance.

1970s: The Hawaiian Renaissance spawned a resurgence in the traditional Hawaiian cultural identity.

Suggested Search Terms: hula, hulahula, "Hawaiian dance," "Toots Paka," "Princess Luana"

Sample Search Strategies:
WORLD'S FAIR HAWAII within 10 words of each other
WORLD'S FAIR HAWAIIAN within 10 words of each other
KALAKAUA HULA within 50 words of each other

Sample Articles From Chronicling America:

"Hula-hula dances scientifically investigated at last"

New-York tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, January 23, 1910, Image 53

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1910-01-23/ed-1/seq-53/

"The truth about Waikiki"

New-York tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, November 26, 1916, Image 39

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1916-11-26/ed-1/seq-39/

"Dying Hawaiian Customs"

New-York tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, April 16, 1899, Image 38

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1899-04-16/ed-1/seq-38/

"Honoluluans protest against exposition hula hula dance"

El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, September 16, 1916, HOME EDITION, Magazine and Feature Section, Image 32