Ward Warehouse Beginner Hula

Place	Ward Warehouse stage area, under Spaghetti Factory, next to Na Mea Hawai`i
Scheduled Time	5-6 Thursdays
Actual Start/End Time	Start time-5:12, End time-6:05
Instructor	Germaine Kaleolani Haili (female) germaine@nativebookshawaii.com 596-8885
Cost	FREE
# of Students	16
Procedure	Just show up at the stage area
Language Spoken	Hawaiian & English Germaine emphasized the importance of Hawaiian language for hula. Without knowing the meaning of the song, you cannot dance it with feeling. Her instruction for this class included 2 chants and 5 different sections of basic steps in Hawaiian. Germaine went over the translation briefly for new students.
Student Attire	25% of the students wore hula skirts. Although it is custom to go bare feet while dancing hula, some dancers wore black socks. This is because after dancing, you will have black dirt caked onto your feet.
Student Type	30% Asian visitors, 54% mainland visitors, 10% local, 6% children Many students were returning students and seemed to have had some prior knowledge of basic steps and Hawaiian chants. 15 female, 1 male
Break Time	N/A
Type of Hula	Basic steps
Steps	Kaholo, hela, `uwehe, hele malie, kaholo i hope, ne`e `uwehe, hele `uwehe, `uwehe, `uwehe i mua, `uwehe i hope, `ami `akau, `ami hema, `ami kuku akau, `ami kuku hema, ka`o, ka`o i mua, ka`o i hope, ka`o i lalo, kalakaua `akau i mua, kalakaua `akau i hope, kalakaua `akau hele a`e, oniu, ku`i akau, ku`i hema, ka`i i mua, ka`i i hope, and demonstration of hele koloa (duck walk)
Fingers	Emphasized that the space between your fingers should be no thicker than a dime
Hands	Arms remained up to chest with fingertips pointing together, palms down and elbows up and out
Facial Expression	N/A
Error Correction	Germaine starts class saying that she is “serious” about hula. She corrects students’ errors accordingly but with a smile and light manner.
Instruments Used to Lead Class	`ipu with chanting and basics CD with basics
Pace	1st 40 minutes of class: went over the 2 Hawaiian chants and the 5 sections of basic steps while students gathered on the carpeted stage area. Instructor talked about how to do steps the right way, and also history, language and culture of hula. 2nd 20 minutes of class: students danced basic hula steps on the concrete stage area.
Recommended for	Anyone who wants to learn Hawaiian language and the culture and history of hula.
Materials/Services Offered	3 handouts: 2 of the Hawaiian chants, 1 of the basic hula steps. Students are asked to put this in a binder by the following week.
Interesting Side Notes	The class ends in a cheer: reciting of the Hawaiian vowels and the name of the hula school. To emphasize how serious the instructor is about hula, she asked the class to do homework and look up the Hawaiian words in the chant. She said that hula class is like a canoe and everyone has to do their part in working hard. Those who do not improve after a reasonable amount of time will sit and watch other students dance. There is another class on Tuesdays 8:30-9:00 a.m. called “Introduction to Hula (Adult)” by the same teacher.
Date Observed	3/2/07