This exhibit is a collaboration between Kumu Hulu Nui Rick San Nicolas, Kumu Hula Chinky Mahoe, and Kumu Hula Kauila Kawelu Barber, with costumes designed by Mahoe and the exhibit concept developed by Barber.
Visitors embark on a visual journey through the evolution of hula, from the sacred dances of the Royal Court before Western contact (pre-1778) to its modern expressions and competitive stage.
The first dancers represent early hula traditions—the wāhine (female) wears a handmade kapa top and an orange pāʻū made with pelon, while the kāne (male) wears a kapa malo with hand-printed designs and a lei of niho ʻīlio (coyote teeth, symbolizing dog teeth of that era). Their ʻuliʻuli (feathered gourd rattles) are crafted from hand-stamped kapa and adorned with hulu moa (chicken feathers).
The second set of dancers reflects the Kalākaua dynasty (1874-1893), a period of cultural revival. Featured instruments include a hula pahu (traditional drum), lapaiki (a coconut-shell drum with a cowhide top), ipu heke (a double-gourd percussion instrument), and pūʻuli (split bamboo rattles)
The final dancer represents the transition from the Kalākaua era to the 1940s, a time of early tourism and cultural exchange. She wears the iconic cellophane skirt, a hallmark of hula’s adaptation during this period, paired with plumeria lei—symbols of the warm welcome offered to arriving visitors at docks and airports.
Each costume displayed was worn in performances at the prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival, celebrating the enduring legacy of hula.
