Traditional Hula is an art of storytelling that originated from a series of only six moves. Dancers create a wide range of interpretations and use the basic moves to create an enchanting performance.

Ancient Hula dancing originated as a ritual dance performed for the Hawaiian Volcano goddess, Pele. Pele’s sister, Hi’iaka originally performed the Hula dance for Pele. In modern Hula, The Hawaiian goddess Laka is the keeper of the dance and was honored with prayers, offerings and leis given by the dancers. After the ritual, dancers placed their leis on the altar of Laka as an offering of flowers to the goddess.

Ailao Afi, Fire Knife Dancing, is a display of a Samoan warrior’s courage as they spin, throw and catch a warrior club.

Before metals were introduced to the Samoan warriors, the most common war clubs used were complex wooden carved heirloom clubs called “anava””. Samoan warriors carved these ‘anava’ with serrated edges and teeth which characterized the unique Samoan weapon called the “nifo’oti”.

When European and American whalers ventured to Samoa, they introduced the Samoan natives to their long-handled blubber knife and the hook cane knife. The Samoan warriors incorporated the metal characteristics of these knives into the Samoan wooden nifo’oti, which resembles the unique hooked component when it is either carved from wood or forged from steel.