| esian music is a fun and vibrant musical style | | | | Considered Hawaiian folk music, today's hula |
| originating from the Polynesian islands of the | | | | musicians often incorporate modern hip-hop and |
| South Pacific. The sounds of this ancient culture | | | | pop sounds in combination with traditional lyrics. |
| have begun to find their way into modern music, | | | | There are also many artists preserving Hawaii's |
| reflected by the tiki craze of the 1950s and | | | | rich cultural heritage through song. The Hawaiian |
| 1960s and even in today's pop culture. Even the | | | | hula is known for the steel guitar, and is the music |
| Beastie Boys have sampled traditional Polynesian | | | | you're most likely to hear if you attend a luau |
| music in their songs. In Polynesia, western-style | | | | during your Hawaiian vacation. |
| music, instruments, and rhythms have made an | | | | These traditional musical sounds remained much |
| impact on the traditional songs found here. | | | | the same for centuries, as most of the Polynesian |
| Polynesia actually comprises of thousands of | | | | islands were not visited by outsiders until at least |
| islands spread across the South Pacific Ocean. | | | | the middle of the eighteenth century. Following |
| Each island is home to its own cultures, traditions, | | | | European contact, they began to incorporate |
| and music. In general, the most important part of | | | | American, European, Asian, and South American |
| Polynesian music is the lyrics. These lyrics often | | | | beats. After the arrival of Christian missionaries, |
| tell a story of daily life or the mythology of the | | | | which began in the 1790s and continued for more |
| islands. The instruments behind these lyrics are | | | | than a century, hymns and other Christian musical |
| simple, but the sounds emanating from them | | | | styles were sung, and native musical styles were |
| beautiful. Among the variety of instruments found | | | | often driven underground, although they also |
| in traditional Polynesian music are slit drums made | | | | merged with Christian styles to create new |
| from logs, as well as nose flutes, a tiny style of | | | | musical genres. |
| flute. These instruments are often accompanied | | | | If you want the atmosphere of Polynesian music |
| by hand clapping to keep the rhythm and flow | | | | for your next party, consider Tiki music, which will |
| going. | | | | instantly transport you to the relaxing feel of a |
| Among the most well-known of traditional | | | | tropical island. This music grew out of the tiki |
| Polynesian music styles is the Hawaiian Hula. This | | | | craze that began in the late 1940s, which also |
| form of music has been passed down through | | | | popularized other areas of Polynesian culture. |
| generations as a central aspect of Hawaiian | | | | When listening to this spinoff of Polynesian music, |
| culture. This traditional folk music tends to be | | | | which has become known as “exotica |
| religious and incorporates chants from the | | | | lounge music,” you can picture yourself |
| audience. Along with the music are the traditional | | | | sitting on a beach, the waves gently lapping at the |
| hula dancers, whose swaying hips and hand | | | | shore. This music combines traditional Polynesian |
| movements tell a story set to song. Today, hula | | | | sounds with music from other areas of the world, |
| music still functions to communicate mythology, | | | | such as Latin rhythms and tribal beats, as well as |
| religion, and history. Although simple in melody and | | | | nature sounds like bird calls, resulting in an unusual |
| rhythm, hula music contains complex and poetic | | | | musical blend. |
| verses. | | | | |