Research, Hula, and Health

The culturally-grounded “Hula Empowering Lifestyle Adaptation (HELA) Study: Benefits of Dancing Hula for Cardiac Rehabilitation,” developed a cardiac rehabilitation program based on learning hula. Classes were taught by esteemed Kumu Hula Māpuana de Silva of Hālau Mōhala ʻIlima. Afterward the completion of the study, the Kumu reflected on important lessons learned, possible directions forward, ways to use the values of hula and Native Hawaiian culture to promote better health, and, of particular significance, key ways to preserve cultural integrity when using hula to treat chronic disease or as an exercise activity. Here she shares her thoughts in a conversation with members of the University of Hawai‘i’s Department of Native Hawaiian Health of the John A. Burns School of Medicine.