Hula performance, Honolulu 1979

Hula, the art of ancient Hawaiian dance, was traditionally performed wearing tapa cloth (not grass skirts) and to the accompaniment of gourd drums and wooden instruments. All traditional hula tell a story, usually legendary tales of Alii(nobles). Today traditional hula has undergone a popular cultural revival and there are numerous hula schools, hula competitions and public performances throughout Hawaii. This image shows an open-air hula performance, with musical accompaniment including traditional gourd drum, in the grounds of a grand old house along the Pali highway, central Oahu.