There is a persistent myth about hula with its grass shirt and hip movements. But hula tells a story or has a message, and the movements of the hands, feet, and other parts of the body only help in telling the story. From this book, you'll understand how: Traditional and modern hula deepens your love for the dance Through hula, you can learn about the Hawaiian language and culture Hula meets the needs in other countries Hula helps with your physical and emotional challenges Hula meets your spiritual needs As a professional dancer and teacher, Leiola expresses her love for hula and the Hawaiian culture through her performances and teaching. For her, hula is the essence of Hawaiian culture-she wants to share this love of hula with others. Minoru, as a connoisseur of hula, is interested in the background of hula and its role in Hawaiian culture and about its current status and prospect for the future. Hula is evolving and herein lays its strength. To understand hula properly, you need to know about the past, for it helps to explain the present. In other words, the unchanging parts of the past explain the changing present. Hula is, indeed, the artistic language of Hawai'i, but it is also the artistic language of the world.