SAN RAMON, Calif. -- "Hula is the language of the heart, and therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people," says Desiree Elder, a Hula instructor with the Polynesian dance revue, Island Spice. "Many ...

My kids took me to Hawaii as a big birthday gift during Thanksgiving. I decided to prepare a bit beforehand by immersing myself in the culture. I read James Michener’s Hawaii and dropped into the ...

The Annapolis-area residents sing, dance and chant with near-flawless rhythm and cadence, displaying traditions and cultures from America’s only island state. They are members of one of the hula ...

KALAMA — With its graceful arm motions, smooth steps and peaceful music, the hula is more than a dance, says Gloria Fujii. Its movements tell a story. The traditional Hawaiian dance — choreographed ...

You can learn all about hula by joining a hula halau, or school. At Leiola Hula Halau, discipline, respect and appreciation for Hawaiian culture come with each hula lesson. "One needs to know before ...

KRISTIE AKIN/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Jeanette Vasquez, of Port Hueneme, uses her toes to hold the end of the braided-style ti leaf lei during Saturday's workshop in Ojai. KRISTIE AKIN/SPECIAL TO THE STAR ...