Product Details

• Directors: Robert Mugge
• Producers: Robert Maier
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 1.0)
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Winstar
• DVD Release Date: May 1, 1999
• Run Time: 85 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1572524723
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #104,246 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Kumu Hula: Keepers of a Culture" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

The hula is the dance of the Hawaiian people and has been practiced since 500 AD. The hula tradition has been passed on for generations by kahuna (priests and sages) and by kumu hula (master teachers).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Trip Into Antiquity, June 28, 2000

By 

Carol Costello (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kumu Hula: Keepers of a Culture [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A respectful and significant look at a sacred tradition, June 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Kumu Hula: Keepers of a Culture (DVD)

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!

48 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maika'i(Wonderful, good)history of Hula, July 14, 2001

By 

Charles (Maui, Hawaii United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kumu Hula: Keepers of a Culture (DVD)

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