hula
 

We are coming to Hawaii (Oahu) in June 2008 for 2 weeks. I want to take hula lessons. (more than just tourist 10 min. lessons). Any suggestions?

You could try mele.com they have links to many of the halaus or hula schools.

Most hula classes meet only once a week, rather than every day for two weeks. You may need private lessons. It's possible that the hula schools offer this, though.

private lessons would probably be costly and to learn a mele in 2wks is not possible for beginner. you'll learn your basic hands and feet for at least a month with most kumu hula. i'd just buy a hula dvd and go at your own pace. shoot, if i knew how to mirror image, i'd teach ya for free.

Pattye Wright in Kailua (O`ahu) offers private lessons to visitor -- either stay in her accommodations, or come daily for lessons:
http://www.realhula.com/hula-lessons.html

realhuladotcom is another halau prostituting hula - SAD SAD SAD!!!!!!!!!!!

I find your comments very odd kauai aka. Care to explain?

what’s odd about it? lcuy, am i the only one who thinks it’s not pono to charge $100 per session? will obviously need more sessions but nonetheless its way too much money especially if she does not detail what is taught in each session. tell me what “intensive” means. no disrespect to kumu but that could mean anything longwinded. not to mention providing your own pa’u skirt, other supplies and what about implements? i highly doubt the op will even surface the topic of ipus. i assume the op is a beginner and will only learn the basics in these private sessions then sent off with a dvd to do mele on her own, if that. this particular website only talks about her hale and even excursions. that’s a red flag to me. majority interested in private sessions are beginners with little or no experience. anyone can learn the basics without private sessions. and even if you’re an intermediate/advanced student, would you pay $100 for a session? of course not, b/c you know better. that’s why halaus like these will take the unsuspecting tourist money and laugh all the way to the bank. no more than $100 for five private sessions and that’s still incredibly high. the problem is there's not enough competition out there to drive her prices down.

i go to kumu for private sessions if i want help choreograph a mele, she will ask for a donation ($15 for 4 sessions) half my regular rate. she feels it’s her kuleana to pass on the tradition and i’m honored she’s my teacher. call it un-aloha, a’ole. it’s all about aloha. there’s protocol and values taught as well as learning hula, exploiting the culture is not one of them. our kumu thinks its shame when her hula sisters/brothers from the same halau, same kumu charge an outrageous amount of money just b/c they can. two of them not here on kauai and i won’t mention the name but one charges $3000 for 8wk course online. you do a test and if you pass (auana and kahiko), you too can become hula kumu, guarenteed. the other charges $1000/mo (you have to inquire the website to get a price). bottom line, hula should be taught for what it is, not for money!

when i say “you,” i’m speaking in general terms. i just hope no one falls for this gimmick.