For Hawaiians, the hula is not just a dance, but a way of life.  Yet while most Americans know only the stereotypes of ʻgrass-skirt girlsʻ from old Hollywood movies and tourist kitsch, the revival of the ancient art of hula tells of the rich history and spirituality of Hawaiʻi.  AMERICAN ALOHA: HULA BEYOND HAWAIʻI discovers a renaissance of Hawaiian culture through music, language and dance as it continues to grow in California.  Following three kumu hula, or master hula teachers, the film celebrates the perpetuation of a culture – from the very traditional to the contemporary – as it evolves on distant shores.  With more Native Hawaiians living on the U.S. continent than on the islands, the hula is a living tradition that connects generations far from home to their heritage.  Revealing the challenges of cultural survival through the struggles of Hawaiʻi’s past, American Aloha is a proud reminder of the power of reclaiming tradition for communities creating a home away from home.

KUMU HULA MARK KEALI'I HO'OMALU

of Academy of Hawaiian Arts (Oakland, CA)