Pa’u Skirt

What does the Pa’u skirt represent in Kahiko hula dancing?

The Pa’u skirt is a traditional dress that women use during Kahiko hula shows. It is woven from fabric or tapa cloth, and is gathered around the waist and at the ankles. The Pa’u skirt, the most significant part of the hula dancer’s attire, symbolises modesty as well as grace. In Kahiko, the traditional form of hula, the Pa’u skirt emphasises the smoothness and grace of the dancer’s movements by allowing the skirt to drape and accentuate the dancer’s movements. It also binds the dancer to Hawaiian culture, which means it honors cultural values and the hula art form.