Where does “Olelo Hawai’i” go in Kahiko hula performances?
’Olelo Hawai’i, the Hawaiian language, also appears heavily in Kahiko hula. Chants (oli) and songs (mele) are part of this more traditional form of hula, which is sometimes sung in ‘lelo Hawai’i, which links the dance to Hawaiian tradition, religion and culture. Rhythmic and poetic in the language, the hula dances have deeper storytelling and emotional force. The use of ‘lelo Hawai’i in Kahiko hula protects the language and ensures the spiritual practices and rituals of the past can be enculturated into the present.