Hi'iakaikapoliopele -- a native Hawaiian woman -- sketched with her hands a chant speaking of the Puna winds, the Kea'au forest and the Nanahuki seas. Her performance enchanted a small audience that included her older sister, the volcano goddess Pele, and her forty other sisters. Hi'iaka had learned hula from her girlfriend, the graceful Hopoe of Puna, who knew the dances of the ancients.

This is the mythology of the first Hula, which made its debut by the Goddess Hi'iaka.

Today dancers revere Hi'iaka as the patroness of hula, and hula survives as the most visible and appealing art form in Hawaiian culture. The interdisciplinary art of hula embraces literature, mythology, genealogy, language, protocol, botany of lei flora and craftsmanship of lei making. The costumes are colorful, the instruments intriguing, the ceremony reverential. The soulful chanting seems to emanate from the center of the earth. And the dance itself is lithesome, athletic, dramatic and uplifting.

The hula is truly an art that must be experienced first hand. However, for those who have not traveled to the islands, this Hawaiian treasure remains undiscovered. So it is with great pleasure that the Asian Dance and Music Program presents authentic Hawaiian Hula for the first time in the Pioneer Valley when Halau Hula Ka No'eau performs at Bowker Auditorium at 3pm on Sunday, February 4.

Just imagine the scene in which hula is made: warm breezes, wonderful smelling flowers, sand, surf and sun. Halau Hula Ka No'eau promises to bring a slice of that tropical scene to the New England winter. The hula is defined as "a dancing expression of joy" -- certainly a taste of summer during an Amherst February is joy incarnate!

Conceived with the idea that the hula is not just entertainment, but is an art form, and encompassing many Hawaiian arts, Halau Hula has continually promoted authentic traditional hula performances in Hawaii and abroad. Under the direction of Michael Pang, Halau Hula Hawaiian Arts Ensemble has emerged as a voice for young Hawaiian choreographers, poets, chanters and musicians and has received a variety of awards for his innovative presentation of traditional and ritual hulas. The company embraces the idyllic dance form and uses their art to encompass inherent aspects of their culture, expressing their thoughts and ideas through their performances.

For the past twenty years the popularity of hula in Hawaii has flourished as Hawaii’s people work to define their identity as an indigenous society. Come and enjoy the rich culture of Hawaii, the art of hula, and you'll understand why this ancient art is thriving.

But don't stop with the performance! Take time to taste a bit of paradise!

The evening of Hawaiian delights is completed with a post-show Hula Party! The tenth floor of the Campus Center will be transformed into a tropical paradise, featuring the Halau Hula company, Polynesian cuisine and a cash bar.

n For tickets to the Halau Hula Ka No'eau Hawaiian Dance Company performance and the post-show Tropical Delight Hula Party, call the Fine Arts Center Box Office at 545-2511 or 1-800-999-UMAS.