‘O ka hula ke ola kanaka
‘O ka hula ke ola kanaka, ‘a’ole nā kānaka āpau ka hula
(Hula is the life of the people, not everyone is hula)
Na Kumu Keala Ching
‘O ka hula ke ola kanaka, ho’onui ‘ike ke ola pili i ka ‘āina
Na ka ‘āina e hō’ike ai ke ala pono o ka hula
I uka o ka waolani, he hale kapu no Laka
Huli a’e ka ‘ie’ie i luna o ka lehua, na ka lā e ola ai
Hīhia ka maile i ka nahelehele, he mana’o pili ka na’au
Hula aku, hula mai, hula ke ola, Ola ka hula
‘O ka hula ke ola kanaka, ‘a’ole nā kānaka āpau ka hula
He kuleana ka hula ma kahi o nā mea a’e e huli iho kou kuleana
Na ke kāne kai hula mua no ka ho’o’ikaika ‘ana o ke ola koa
‘O ka hula Akua ka wahine, ‘O Kapo’ula lāua ‘o Laka
‘A’ole nā kānaka āpau ka hula, ‘a’ohe o lākou kuleana ma laila
Hula aku, hula mai, hula ke ola, Ola ka hula
Hula is the life of the people; knowledge grows with the understanding of the land.
The land shows the rightful path of the hula.
In the forest is the sacred house of the hula Goddess, Laka.
The ‘Ie’ie vine strives high upon the lehua, seeking the life of the sun.
The Maile crawls along the forest, entangling the thoughts deep within.
Share hula, receive hula, life is hula, hula is life.
Hula is the life of the people, not everyone is hula.
Hula is a responsibility beyond other things. Seek your responsibility.
Men did hula first for the life and strength of war.
The hula goddesses are Kapo’ula and Laka.
Not everyone is Hula, their responsibility is not there (in hula).
Share hula, receive hula, life is hula, hula is life.
A message to those who know that hula is or is not your responsibility. Hula is life and the life of hula is within, should you choose to live the path found within the forest. Guided by a Higher Spirit, the Goddess of the hula is Kapo’ula and Laka. The ‘ie’ie is like the dancer striving to live within the life of the sun and the maile is like our memories entangled deeply. We seek to know our responsibility and our place within the forest. Yes, hula is not for everyone but it is life found within you if you choose to live it. Share hula, receive hula, life is hula and hula is life. ❖
Kumu Keala Ching
Kumu Keala Ching is a Hawaiian cultural educator, composer, song writer, and spiritual advisor to many Hawaiian organizations. He lives and breathes aloha into his Hawaiian heritage with his strong presence and great heart. Under the tutelage of Loea Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, Kumu Keala spent many years learning and building his knowledge. He is fluent in the Hawaiian language, which he uses as the foundation for teaching all of his students. Kumu Keala lives in Kailua-Kona, where he is Kumu Hula for Ka Pa Hula Na Wai Iwi Ola (the ancient waters of life) and co-founder and executive director of Na Wai Iwi Ola (NWIO) Foundation.
