A great resource for students of traditional Hawaiian dance, this beautiful handbook filled with archival photographs covers the origins,&nbsp;language, etiquette, ceremonies, and the spiritual culture of Hula. Hula, the indigenous dance of Hawai'i, preserves significant aspects of&nbsp;Native Hawaiian culture with strong ties to health and spirituality.<i>Kumu hula,</i> persons who are culturally recognized Hula experts and&nbsp;educators, maintain and share this cultural tradition, conveying Hawaiian history and spiritual beliefs in this unique form of cultural and&nbsp;creative expression, comprising specific controlled rhythmic movements that enhance the meaning and poetry of the accompanying&nbsp;songs.<br><br>Emphasizing the importance of cultural literacy, the <i>Handbook</i> begins with an overview of the origins of Hula, its history in Hawai'i, and&nbsp;the primacy of the spiritual focus of the dance. The book goes on to introduce halau etiquette and practices, and explains the format of a&nbsp;traditional Hula presentation, together with the genres of Hula and the regalia worn by the dancers. Practical components include&nbsp;sections on Hawaiian language and chant and a glossary of Hula commands and footwork.<br><br>Author Mahealani Uchiyama trained in Hawaii in the hula lineage of Joseph Kamoha'i Kaha'ulelio and is currently the Kumu Hula at the&nbsp;Halau Ku Ua Tuahine in Berkeley, California. As the founder and artistic director of the Center for International Dance and board member&nbsp;of Dance Arts West, the producers of San Francisco's annual Ethnic Dance Festival, Uchiyama's approach to Hula is deeply holistic and&nbsp;reflects her background in indigenous wisdom traditions and cultural exchange and interaction.