ハワイの思い出！ダンスのプロに誘われて～！ 「無理ですよ～」フラダンスの魅力に翻弄！

Memories from the World-Famous Resort, Hawaii! Invited by a Dance Pro!

NO. 3: “No Way!” Enchanted by the Charm of Hula Dance!

During my second visit about 30 years ago for work,

I attended a hula dance show on Waikiki Beach.

The ticket cost was probably around $20, so I decided to participate.

Locally, it’s not called “hula dance” but simply “hula,”

and it felt like an everyday entertainment.

The show started around 6 PM.

The venue, surrounded by fence-like structures with torches burning here and there,

created a radiant and mesmerizing atmosphere.

As the beach venue transitioned from a beautiful sunset to darkness,

illuminated by torches, it felt almost magical.

Gradually, many tourists gathered, and it was almost full.

Being a world-renowned tourist spot,

the crowd was quite diverse.

The leader’s greeting marked the beginning of the authentic hula dance show!

The show lasted about two hours,

featuring various hula dances led by the leader’s instructions.

I was captivated by the authentic hula dance for the first time,

ranging from typical slow dances to intense performances.

The quick movements of the hands and hips impressed me, leaving me in awe.

After the show,

there was a surprise event where guests were invited to dance on stage

with the dancers.

As I watched in a daze, a female dancer approached me and invited me to join,

saying, “Please, come up.”

Despite my inability to dance, she encouraged me with a smile,

“Don’t be shy!” Reluctantly, I gathered my courage and went up on stage,

feeling incredibly embarrassed as people watched.

On stage, I was taught the basic hand and hip movements of hula.

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Here’s a quick rundown of what I remember:

• Basic Steps:
  • Kāholo: A step moving two steps sideways, repeating right and 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　left with sliding hand movements.
  • Hela: Extending one foot forward and returning,　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　alternating right and left.
  • ʻUwehe: Opening legs front and back, bending and lifting knees.
  • Ami: Rotating the hips in a circular motion, clockwise or counterclockwise.
• Hand Movements:
  • Hand motions in hula express natural elements and stories, 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　like waves, wind, flowers, and trees.
    • Wave: Moving hands side to side to mimic waves.
    • Wind: Lightly waving hands to represent blowing wind.
    • Flower: Forming hands as if holding a flower, showing it blooming.

After these basic lessons, my first-ever hula dance show began!

Dressed in long-sleeve shirt and suit pants, far from resort fashion,

I felt out of place but persisted seriously in the dance,

earning applause from the audience,

which left me both puzzled and sweating heavily.

The event ended after about 30 minutes,

and I returned to my seat, relieved.

It was a mix of fun and embarrassment, yet a memorable moment.

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Back at the hotel,

I drank a lot of beer and reminisced about the hula dance and

“Aloha ‘Oe,” falling asleep deeply.

Extra Note:

“Aloha ‘Oe” is a song I believed from childhood to symbolize

Hawaii’s charm and culture, and a romantic “love song.”

Many Japanese might think the same.

However, upon researching,

I found that “Aloha ‘Oe” means “farewell” in Hawaiian.

“Aloha” carries meanings like “love,” “hello,” and “goodbye,”

while “Oe” means “you.”

Hence, “Aloha ‘Oe” translates to “farewell to you” or

“farewell, my beloved.”

This was completely contrary to my imagination and

another surprising memory of Hawaii.

To be continued!

Next time, the topic will be gourmet delights.