Hawaiian music: How it Has Evolved Through the Ages

Shaka Guide

Listen to audio sample:

There are many various forms of hula music, varying from traditional to more modern. We wish you could see the hula dancers on stage, bringing to life the meaning of the music - but instead, just imagine the graceful swinging of the hips and intricate hand movements.

Hula is still accompanied by instruments made from hollowed out gourds to keep the tempo and rhythm with the dancers. They also sing along with ‘mele’ or chants. First up, let’s listen to an example of a more traditional hula mele.

Here is another sample; this one is more of a classic hula sound with a slower melody, and mele, or chants, in Hawaiian intermixed.

Lastly, hula has evolved with more modern rhythm and style sung in English. This one you may recognize, it’s lovely hula hands, with Don Ho singing about the hands of the hula dancer.

Want to listen to some real Hawaiian music?

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