Sample ClipA film by Lisette Marie Flanary & Evann Siebens. "American Aloha: Hula Beyond Hawai'i" shows the survival of the hula as a renaissance continues to grow beyond the islands. With the cost of living in Hawai'i estimated at 27 percent higher than the continental United States, large numbers of Hawaiians have left the islands to pursue professional and educational opportunities. Today, with more Native Hawaiians living on the mainland than in the state of Hawai'i, the hula has traveled with them. From the suburbs of Los Angeles to the San Francisco Bay Area, the largest Hawaiian communities have settled in California, and the hula continues to connect communities to their heritage on distant shores. Sounding a universal note of cultural adaptation and renewal, "American Aloha" takes us on a tour through the practices and philosophies of some of those at the forefront of hula's renaissance on the mainland. The film focuses on the work of three kumu hula, or master teachers of hula, in the largest Hawaiian communities in California. The three teachers, who have all resided on the mainland for over 20 years, represent very different — and sometimes controversial — approaches to preserving the integrity of ancient hula while carrying the art form into the future. With the disappearance of pure Native Hawaiians predicted within a generation, today's revival of the ancient art of hula is a creative response to the challenges of cultural survival. A powerful testament to the vibrant community of Hawaiians living far from home, "American Aloha" is a wonderfully entertaining celebration of Hawaiian culture as well as a proud tribute to those who will carry traditions into the future.
Approximate Running Time: 55 Minutes. |
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