Discover the joy of hula with the Pacific Islander Student Association

The atmosphere in the Student Wellness Center (SWC) was in stark contrast to the below-freezing winter weather. While snow was flurrying outside, students in Studio Room 1 could be found dancing to “Ulupalakua” by Baba B, a hula song describing cowboy culture in Hawai’i. On Wednesday, April 19, the MSU Pacific Islander Student Association (PISA) hosted its first hula dance class in the SWC.

According to National Geographic, hula is a traditional Hawaiian dance form used to pass down stories through generations. As a result of colonization, hula was highly restricted and even outlawed as Christian ministries marginalized Native Hawaiians. Hula was eventually made into a tourist attraction, which — according to the National Geographic article — reduced its sacred religious significance of hula and furthered harmful stereotypes about Hawaiian culture.

In the 1960s, the Hawaiian people carried out the Hawaiian Renaissance to reclaim their cultural identity. This included the ability to practice their culture, speak their language, name children Hawaiian names and dance hula in the traditional way, according to National Geographic. 

PISA is a relatively new club to MSU. The club was started in 2023 by founder and President Ku’umakalehiwaonalani Ruidas. Ruidas, who was born and raised in Maui, Hawai’i, is studying history with minors in museum studies and Native American studies.

Ruidas said that she started the PISA to form a community for Pacific Islander students. “[I thought] maybe it would help people find other people to make new friends or just to realize and know that you’re not by yourself out here,” Ruidas said. “I feel like we can be ourselves — because sometimes we have certain ways of speaking that are a bit different — I just think it's a place where we can feel safe and be ourselves.”

Last year, the PISA hosted hula classes in the Strand Union Building, but moved their classes to the SWC this semester. 

“I realized that when I would dance hula — even in my dorm room — I felt a lot better. It would kind of ease the homesickness,” Ruidas said. 

After speaking with other members of the club she decided that it would be feasible to put together a class.

“I started to meet new people like [student Apoleihikiula Carvalho] who actually danced [competitively], but I figured I can teach it, so I might as well share that with other people,” Ruidas said. She shared that dancing hula helps take her mind off of school and de-stress. 

Ruidas encouraged anyone interested in learning more about hula to attend the dance classes.

“We’re always welcome to new people, even if it’s out of your comfort [zone], it's really no stress,” Ruidas said, emphasizing that students who are interested should give it a try because most everyone in the club is learning hula too. 

Hula classes are biweekly, with the next class being held on March 5 in Studio Room 1 in the SWC. The class is free and open to all students. 

To keep up to date with PISA, follow @msu.pisa on Instagram. To contact PISA, email them at msu.pacificislanders@gmail.com.