Hula Terminology

'a'ole maopopo ia'u

I don't understand

maopopo ia'u

I understand

oli

a chant that is not danced to

kūpe'e

adornments worn on the wrist and ankles

hanahou

again, repeat

'ai ha'a

any hula step danced with bended knees

pā'ū hula

any kind of dance skirt

mahope

backward

mele hula

chant for dancing

mele ka'i

chant or song sung while dancers enter

mele ka'i

chant or song sung while dancers exit

mea oli

chanter of oli

ho'opa'a

chanter, drummer

mai

come

pololei

correct, right, straight, accurate

'ōlapa

dancer

ilalo

down

hula ka'i

entrance dance

hula ka'i ho'i

exit dance

imua

forward, front

'okina

glottal step

ho'i

go

maika'i

good, fine, well

po'opua'a

head pupil in a hula school

kaona

hidden meaning in Hawaiian poetry

kīkala

hips

popo

hips/buttocks

alaka'i hula

hula leader, assistant

hālau hula

hula school

kumu hula

hula teacher

hema

left

lei po'o

lei worn on the head

malo

male loincloth

hula 'auana, hula ku'i

modern hula or hula accompanied with music

ne'e

move

inoa

name

'a'ole

no

ho'oma'ama'a

practice

'ākau

right

'ao'ao

side

loea

skill, expert, knowledge of skill

mele

song, chant of any kind, poem, suitable for dancing

haumana

student

ho'omākaukau, mākaukau

to be prepared

ho'omaka

to begin

kāhea

to call, cry out

ho'olohe

to hear, obey

hula kahiko, hula 'ōlapa

traditional or ancient hula

huli

turn

hula 'āla'apapa

type of ancient dramatic hula accompanied by an ipu (heke)

iluna

up

kahakō

vowel stress

hewa

wrong, mistake, error, guilt, incorrect

'ae

yes