Bringing hula to 'Lilo & Stitch'
· As technical advisor, choreographer portrays artform as more than Hollywood's standard hip-wiggling
BURBANK (LA Times) -- Hula master Kunewa Mook was able to help bring traditional hula to the film "Lilo & Stitch" so it could overcome some of Hollywood's stereotypes.
"I really didn't like what I was seeing in terms of the tradition of hula," Mook said of his move from Hawaii to California in the 1960s. "What I was seeing was Hollywood ... it was really just wiggling of the hips with no rhyme or reason."
Authentic hula focuses on the message in the song, which can be about places in Hawaii or elsewhere, gods and goddesses, nature or love, Mook said. Hand gestures, singing, chanting and footwork come together to honor the music's theme. The 61-year-old teacher was an accountant before his sister held him accountable for carrying on the hula tradition on the mainland. Mook opened his Burbank studio, Hula Halau O Kamuela Elua, or Hula School of Samuel #2, in 1986.
The Samuel #1 school has been in Hawaii since 1945, opened by his uncle and now run by his sister.
Not only did Mook provide Disney's staff with choreographic advice, contacts with other artists such as singer Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu, and the choreography for the June movie premiere that was danced by his students -- he also was the voice of the teacher in the film.
"Lilo & Stitch" tells the story of a young girl's friendship with a small dog who is really an alien. Through her love of "ohana," or family, Lilo teaches Stitch about love.
"I went back to Hawaii right after the premiere," Mook said. "I was able to hear from my students in Hawaii and from the people in Hawaii how much they loved the movie, and how they felt like it was just like a part of them. So I felt that I did my job well. The movie did us justice really, as far as the authenticity."
· As technical advisor, choreographer portrays artform as more than Hollywood's standard hip-wiggling
BURBANK (LA Times) -- Hula master Kunewa Mook was able to help bring traditional hula to the film "Lilo & Stitch" so it could overcome some of Hollywood's stereotypes.
"I really didn't like what I was seeing in terms of the tradition of hula," Mook said of his move from Hawaii to California in the 1960s. "What I was seeing was Hollywood ... it was really just wiggling of the hips with no rhyme or reason."
Authentic hula focuses on the message in the song, which can be about places in Hawaii or elsewhere, gods and goddesses, nature or love, Mook said. Hand gestures, singing, chanting and footwork come together to honor the music's theme. The 61-year-old teacher was an accountant before his sister held him accountable for carrying on the hula tradition on the mainland. Mook opened his Burbank studio, Hula Halau O Kamuela Elua, or Hula School of Samuel #2, in 1986.
The Samuel #1 school has been in Hawaii since 1945, opened by his uncle and now run by his sister.
Not only did Mook provide Disney's staff with choreographic advice, contacts with other artists such as singer Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu, and the choreography for the June movie premiere that was danced by his students -- he also was the voice of the teacher in the film.
"Lilo & Stitch" tells the story of a young girl's friendship with a small dog who is really an alien. Through her love of "ohana," or family, Lilo teaches Stitch about love.
"I went back to Hawaii right after the premiere," Mook said. "I was able to hear from my students in Hawaii and from the people in Hawaii how much they loved the movie, and how they felt like it was just like a part of them. So I felt that I did my job well. The movie did us justice really, as far as the authenticity."