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State Symbols

The official state symbols represent the cultural heritage and natural treasures of each state or the entire United States

Hawaii Symbols

Hawaii State Dance

Hula

Adopted in 1999.

Hula was adopted in 1999 as the official dance of the state.

Chapter 5 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, Hawaii's state laws

[§5-21] State dance. Hula is adopted, established, and designated as the official dance of the State. [L 1999, c 83, §2]

The fifth largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, Molokai is immersed in natural beauty. What's more, nearly 40 percent of the island's 7,400 residents are Hawaiian by descent.

Hula is the soul of Hawaii expressed in motion. Molokai is Hawaiian in another special way: It is widely held to be the birthplace of hula. The legend has it that Laka, the goddess of the hula, journeyed from island to island, sharing the dance with all who wished to learn. Each of her graceful movements was layered with spiritual meaning, bringing to life the history, traditions and genealogy of the Hawaiian people. Although it began as a form of worship during religious ceremonies, it gradually evolved into a form of entertainment.

Laka gave birth to the Hawaiian dance at a sacred hill in Kaana. It was on this hill, Puu Nana, that the ancient Hawaiians learned hula of every kind. It is said that the remains of Laka herself are secretly hidden somewhere beneath the hill.

Every movement in hula has a specific meaning, and every expression of the dancer's hands has great significance. The movements of a dancer's body might represent certain plants, animals, and even war.

During the 19th century, the hula almost vanished because the missionaries considered it vile and heathen. King David Kalakaua is generally regarded as saving it during the late 1800's, when he formed his own troupe and encouraged the dancers to learn the old hula.

Today, several hundred halau hula (hula schools) and less formal hula groups are active on every island and the mainland, teaching hula to thousands of students and keeping the old ways and traditional Hawaiian culture alive.

Statute

Hawai`i Revised Statutes, Volume 1, Chapter 5, Section 5-21

Volume 1.
CHAPTER 5. EMBLEMS AND SYMBOLS.
SECTION 5-21

[§5-21] State dance. Hula is adopted, established, and designated as the official dance of the State. [L 1999, c 83, §2]

State Symbols

State symbols represent things that are special to a particular state.

symbol \ˈsim-bəl\
noun

Etymology:
in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together, compare, from syn- + ballein to throw — more at devil
Date: 15th century

1: Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible.