dance

by Mary Peabody, Gr. 5

Hawaiian

Hula

Dance with me, called the sea.

Dance with me, called the land.

Dance with me, called the wind.

And tell of this special place called Hawai'i

(Poem reprinted with permission from "Hawai'i Sings" by Joy. S. Au, 1995, Mutual Publishing, Honolulu, HI.

Woof!

Did you know hula was once almost illegal in Hawai'i?

When the missionaries arrived in Hawai'i in the 1830s, they convinced Queen Kaahumanu that the dance was immoral and "lewd." It was banned from towns for almost thirty years!

Hula is a very old form of Hawaiian dance. The dancers tell a story with their hands and bodies. Click on History of the Hula to learn about our beautiful native dance.

History of the Hula

Now, follow our step-by-step hula directions. Soon, you'll be dancing an authentic Hawaiian hula!

Learn How to Hula

Here are the words and song for "Pearly Shells," a popular modern Hawaiian song. Practice our step-by-step directions for the hand and foot movements, then see our video clip. Don't be shy. Boys and girls can dance this easy hula. It's lot's of fun.

Click here--> To Hear Pearly Shells

Pearly shells from the ocean,
shinning in the sun, covering the shore.

When I see them, my heart tells me that I love you,

more than all the little pearly shells.

For every grain of sand upon the beach,

I've got a kiss for you,

and I've got more left over

for each star that twinkles in the blue.

(Repeat the first four lines again.)

Here are the hand movements!

"Pearly shells" - Act like you're picking up shells from the beach. Then, turn your hands over so your palms are up, but still closed.

"from the ocean" - Move your hands up and down, like the waves in the ocean.

"shinning in the sun" - Raise your arms in a circle until they are over your head, like the sun.

"covering the shore" - Move your hands slowly from from left to right, like the flat beach.

"When I see them" - Hold your left hand by your eye, and your right hand up and out.

"my heart tells me that I love you" - Cross your hands over your heart.

"more than all the little pearly shells" - repeat the first step, picking the little shells from the shore.

"for every grain of sand upon the shore" -

act like you're picking up little grains of sand on the shore.

"I've got a kiss for you" -

Put your hands by your mouth as if you are blowing a kiss.

"and I've got even more for every star that twinkles in the blue " -

Raise your hands over your head as if you were picking stars from the sky.

On to Games

"Pearly shells" - Act like you're picking up shells from the beach. Then, turn your hands over so your palms are up, but still closed.
"from the ocean" - Move your hands up and down, like the waves in the ocean.
"shinning in the sun" - Raise your arms in a circle until they are over your head, like the sun.
"covering the shore" - Move your hands slowly from from left to right, like the flat beach.
"When I see them" - Hold your left hand by your eye, and your right hand up and out.
"my heart tells me that I love you" - Cross your hands over your heart.
"more than all the little pearly shells" - repeat the first step, picking the little shells from the shore.
"for every grain of sand upon the shore" - act like you're picking up little grains of sand on the shore.
"I've got a kiss for you" - Put your hands by your mouth as if you are blowing a kiss.
"and I've got even more for every star that twinkles in the blue " - Raise your hands over your head as if you were picking stars from the sky.