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Hawaii's Culture

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The culture of Hawaii is very diverse, with virtually every nation and ethnicity represented in its festivals, food, art and music. Visitors can enjoy hula, the Honolulu Symphony, or hip hop. Yet, the native Hawaiians’ spirit can still be felt upon the shores.

A “Native Hawaiian” is described by Congress as “any individual who is a descendant of the aboriginal people who, prior to 1778, occupied and exercised sovereignty in the area that now constitutes the State of Hawaii” (U.S. Public Law 103-150). The natives define themselves by their relationships to each other, their land, and their ancestors. Being Hawaiian includes the responsibility of nurturing these ties. In the Hawaiian society, members are expected to contribute to the community and use their talents to benefit the whole family. Hawaiians embrace the family as the best form of human expression, and quickly reject the individualism so highly valued in Euro American societies.

One of the primary staples of the Hawaiian culture is the hula. Hula is the soul of Hawaii worked out through motion. Although no one knows the hula’s exact origin, Hawaiians agree the first hula was performed by a god or goddess, thus, making the dance a sacred ritual. There are those who believe that the hula was danced only by men, however legend and historical sources indicate that both men and women danced.

Hawaiian hula is unique from other Polynesian dances. It began as a form of worship during religious ceremonies, and gradually developed to its current form of entertainment. Hula is the combination of the theatre, opera, and lecture hall of the islands, all rolled into one. It is the history of the state demonstrated in the performing arts.

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