Royal Hawaiian Hotel

 2023 September

Photos taken by Alex Yu 

In Honolulu, Hawaii, the entire month of September is dedicated to the celebration of Aloha Festival. The Hawaiian royal family presides over the grand opening ceremony, which is followed by a mesmerizing "Hula dance" performance. The word "hula" finds its roots in the original Polynesian language, signifying movements akin to "swinging" or "bending."

Westerners arrived in Hawaii towards the end of the 18th century, a time when both men and women typically eschewed shirts, and women even engaged in topless hula dancing, a sight that disturbed Western missionaries. As the 19th century dawned, hula was temporarily prohibited from public performance due to its perceived provocative nature. However, in the late 19th century, hula experienced a resurgence thanks to the staunch support of King Kalakaua of Hawaii. In a significant milestone, the Merrie Monarch Festival was officially established in 1964, dedicated to the celebration of hula dancing.