In the sun-soaked realm of Hawaiian dance, a revolutionary force emerged from the palm-fringed shores: Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu. Led by the visionary kumu hula Patrick Makuakāne, this hālau has taken the concept of hula and turned it upside down, shaking it like a maraca at a Saturday night disco. Welcome to the world of Hula Mua, where the Aloha Spirit meets the pulsating beats of techno, and grass skirts twirl with an undeniable grooviness like never before. Picture this: a serene Hawaiian evening, the sound of waves lapping against the shore, the sweet scent of plumeria in the air, and suddenly—BAM! You’re hit with the synths of an ‘80s disco anthem. It’s not just hula; it's hula on an energy drink. Makuakāne has single-handedly elevated the ancient art of hula from simple storytelling to a full-on rave—who knew that a hula performance could make you feel like you just stumbled into a luau mixology class at a Vegas nightclub? To those who believe hula should only include traditional chants and the soulful strum of ‘ukulele, brace yourselves. Makuakāne scoffs at your constraints! Why limit oneself to Hawaiian music when a perfectly good Lady Gaga track can inspire the next great hula move? Why sway gently to the melancholic tones of the taro fields when you can break it down to a disco-orange lollipop perhaps? At Nā Lei Hulu, the hula is here to evolve—much like that awkward uncle who shows up to the family BBQ in neon leg warmers and insists that he still “has it.” And let’s talk about the costumes! Gone are the days when all you needed were some flowered leis and grass skirts. The hālau’s performances are a visual feast, akin to a kaleidoscope had a delightful affair with a confetti cannon. Sparkles, sequins, and bright colors envelop the dancers, who shimmy and shake in ensemble pieces that could only be described as a cross between a colorful piñata and a tropical fruit salad at its best. When the dancers move, you may catch a glimpse of Hawaiian history, but you’re far more likely to see what happens when 'Aloha' collides with 'Let’s Get This Party Started!' Critics have praised Makuakāne for being not just a charming showman, but also a choreographer with a “keen artistic vision.” Sure, that’s a fancy way of saying he’s the mad scientist of the hula world, with a secret lab where he’s blending hula forms with every genre imaginable to create—brace yourself—musical fusion! And if George Heymont of The Huffington Post claims that the performances are “wondrously rich,” let’s be honest: it’s more like “wondrously bewildering” when a dancer spins dramatically to an opera finale, leaving us questioning our life choices while also thinking, "Wow, that’s a really nice spin!" In a world craving creativity and a break from tradition (while simultaneously clinging to it like a life preserver), Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu provides the antidote. It’s a reminder that in the realm of hula, evolution doesn’t just mean tweaking a footwork pattern—you can also draw inspiration from the disco ball overhead. It’s not a collision; it’s a celebration! So the next time you hear the word “hula,” don’t be surprised if someone shows up in a sequined top, stomping to the beat of an EDM remix while performing a traditional Hawaiian hula chant. Because at Nā Lei Hulu, the grass skirts don’t just sway; they groove, baby! Get ready to hula like you’ve never hula’d before!