Hula Group Blesses Our Sacred Space

Today we had a wonderful offering of a hula performance at the monastery. Pilgrims still here from mahasamadhi were able to watch in on the sacred, ancient dance offering. Check out their website: halaukaleikukuihiilani.wordpress.com

From Wikipedia:
Hula is a dance form accompanied by chant (oli) or song (mele). It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of the oli or mele in a visual dance form.

From far away we can see a small group of people huddled together

The people really give the hillside some perspective!

...getting closer

Sadasivanathaswami gives a short talk to the group

The performers had elaborate head wraps that were freshly made for this occasion

This is Kumu Hula Leihi\

ilani Kirkpatrick, teacher of the group. Kumu started dancing hula in the 1950s with her ohana or family. She has been taught by several wonderful hula teachers\/masters.'

Kumu Lei teaches Hawaiian Studies in  schools on Kaua\

i. She is also the Kumu Hula and Kumu Huaka\'i of an association of skilled and respected cultural practitioners on Kaua\'i who work together to provide workshops, seminars and programmes for people desiring to learn more about Hawaiian language, culture, history, hula and arts and crafts.'

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