It wasn\u2019t until the early 20th century that men\u2019s hula began to make a comeback. In 1902, a Hawaiian named Joseph Ilalaole formed a hula troupe consisting entirely of men. His group, called Keaka o Haili, performed hula throughout Hawaii and the mainland United States, challenging the notion that hula was solely for women.<\/p>\n
In the 1920s and 1930s, hula became a popular tourist attraction, and men\u2019s hula groups began to emerge. However, it wasn\u2019t until the 1960s and 1970s, during the Hawaiian Renaissance, that men\u2019s hula experienced a resurgence. During this period, Hawaiian culture and traditions were celebrated and revived, and men\u2019s hula groups became more common.<\/p>\n
This video shows the top five dance teams at the Merrie Monarch competition in the Hula Kahiko (ancient), K\u0101ne (male) Division. You\u2019ll quickly realize the talent and artistry of these groups and I think you\u2019ll agree that male hula dancing is fantastic! Watch the full video below and please leave us a Facebook comment to let us know what you thought!<\/p>\n