Customer Reviews

Kumu Hula: Keepers of a Culture [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this tape on the old, traditional hulas of Hawaii. You won't find the popular, swaying palm Waikiki-type hulas with grandmas strumming ukes, but the chanting/percussion hulas of antiquity. There are some good interview with kumu hula's, or master teachers of hula, and the only drawback is that they are a bit competitive with one another. Everybody pushes their own hula school. But this is the real deal hula, a dying art, and it's inspiring. About 20% of the tape is narration and kumu hulas being interviewed, and all the rest is the dancing.

This is a beautiful film that honors the Kumu Hula, the teachers of the ancient Hawaiian tradition of hula. Not the modern version of swinging hips and flowing hands, but an older ceremonial style that includes drumming and chant. The pace is slow but it helps to bring you into the mood of the work being done by these teachers and their students. As the case says (I own a copy): "This is Hawaiian culture as few outsiders have ever seen it: rich, expressive, colorful and totally unique." Mahalo!

This documentary gives the viewer, whether they see Hula for the first time, or are involved in Hula, a perfect example of what Hula was in ancient times in the days of the Kapo'e Kahiko(people of old) and what it is today. Kumu Hula(Hula Master, Vicki Holt-Takamine, the Producers and Directors went beyound the call to portray a very important part of our cultural connection to the Hula, which was one of the only means to transcribe with dance and Oli(chants, the history of our past. Our Hula Halau(Hula School)Pukalani Hula Hale of Maui was proud to participate in the making of this film. Mahalo a nui loa(thank you very much)for making it available to the world.

Kahu(Reverand)Charles Kauluwehi Maxwell Sr., Pukalani, Maui Hawaii

This is not only an entertaining film, but this film also respectfully helps to preserve the culture. The kumus are wonderful sources of knowledge, the scenery and dancing are beautiful, and the dancers themselves are really beautiful each in their own way.

I love this DVD. This is not a 'learn to hula' DVD. It is a documentary on the beautiful hula. You learn about the history and culture of the hula as well as opinions from Kumu Hulas. I really recommend this DVD~!

Kumu Hula: Keepers of a Culture is a documentary about the complete history of this well-renowned Hawai'ian dance. The interviews with respected hula teachers are insightful and gives an eye-opening view of the Hawai'ian people performing many hulas. This DVD is perfect for school research and for children who want to learn about hula dancing.

I love this video, but the sound doesn't come through like it should. I have to turn my TV all the way up to barely hear it. :(

I really did not know what to expect but being a lover of Hawaiian tradition and music, I thought I would take a chance on this dvd. I had nothing to lose; was so reasonable from a third party seller. What I love about this dvd is the realistic approach to the study of the hula and its culture! Nothing staged , nothing fake! Like some of the made for television productions. PBS to just name one. This one is true to life and Very well done. Thoroughly enjoyed!

For those with a discerning eye there *are* some genuine Native Hawaiians & some genuine Hawaiian culture on this one. My most easily explained suggestion to the unfamiliar is to look for those in the film who actually look Native Hawaiian and be skeptical of those in the film who one can easily see are either of European\American or Asian ancestry. Would you prefer to learn about French culture directly firsthand from someone of genuine French ancestry, or secondhand from someone of Asian or Euro-American, etc... ancestry?

PS: I believe you can install this film on your hard drive if you prefer, like me, and keep the DVD disk stored away for a safe backup.