Hula is the soul of Hawaii expressed in motion. No one knows its exact origins but Hawaiians agree that the first hula was performed by a god or goddess which makes the dance a sacred ritual.
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.
Chants accompany the movements and aid in telling the dancer's story. Traditionally it was not the dancer's hands but the words that counted the most. Today, because so few understand the language of the chants, increasing emphasis has been placed on movements and gestures.

The costumes of the ancient dancers consisted of leis for the head and shoulders, pa'u or skirt (made out of tapa), and kupe'e or anklets or bracelets made of either shells, or certain plants.
Because it was a religious dance, the training of ancient hula dancers at the halau hula (hula school) was strict. Students followed elaborate rules of conduct (kapu) and had to obey their teacher (kumu). For example, dancers could not cut their hair or nails, certain foods were forbidden, and no sex was allowed. A memorizer (hoopaa) assisted the kumu with the chanting and with the betting of either the 'ipu of the pahu. A head pupil, selected by the students, was in charge of discipline.

The students danced on a platform with an altar dedicated to Laka, decorated with vines and flowers. Their graduation was a special ceremony with a strict protocol. Graduating students remained in the halau for several days rehearsing, undergoing ritual purification in the sea, offering prayers, eating and so on. There was a graduation feast featuring a pig and, lastly, the dismantling of the altar followed by the ending of the kapu. This process was called 'uniki
Some halau were located in a heiau (temple), in an area set apart for the hula. One of the best known halau can be found at Kee, near Haena on Kauai's north shore.

Hula kahiko (old style) is performed in traditional costume to accompanying chanting and percussion only. Hula auana (modern style) is accompanied by songs, ukuleles, guitars, and other instruments with dancers in imaginative costumes.
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.For this action he his now honored and a competition was named after him the Merrie Monarch.

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