I have lived in Hawaii for 15 years, and it is the first time I watched Merrie Monarch. I watched most of yesterday and today...then they just announced the winners. I managed to pick the first place winners, purely based on the emotion that they evoked in me. My heart is full. Mahalo.
This was wonderful. I am a haole from the mainland who lived in Hawaii for four years and fell in love with the culture and the people. Years later, I had the great fortune and privilege to join a hula halau on the mainland and study with a kumu. We learned chanting, both hula kahiko and hula ʻauana, made our own pa'u skirts and I also learned how to play the ukulele. It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life to be in that halau with my kumu and my sisters. It is forever a part of me.
❤❤❤🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽 I love how you embrace the culture. You understand "haole" is not derogatory. I am Hawaiian Chinese English Portuguese and Polish. My haole ancestors came to Hawaii in the 1800s, white men who embraced the culture and assimilated. Their keiki spoke Hawaiian in the home. Aloha my bruddah
This video summarizes why I chose environmental studies as my major. Not only is it important to know in a scientific way how this world flows, but also within us & how we are connected to it. I think we often forget that we are just guests here. Sending love from Florida.
That was beautiful it needs to be longer. It needs to be a Netflix special. The world needs to see this and have an understanding even though we’re humans were a small part of what this universe with this world with this earth is about.
What a beautiful film. It was my good fortune to live in Hawaii when I was young. This is a Hawaiian story, but it applies to ancient culture and traditions everywhere. This is what we must cherish and preserve.
Hula is a important part of our Native Hawaiian Culture and heritage, that has been around for more then a hundreds of years taught to us by our ancestors and by our kupuna and our kumu. It is telling the stories of the past present and future. That is what makes hula dancing a part of our lives.
A wonderful explanation of the hula and all the associations that come with it in Halau. I live in Oakland CA and have traveled often to Hawaii. I came to love hula and mele from my mother, who learned hula from Hawaiian roustabouts when she was in the A.G.Barnes circus. After the circus closed down she and the roustabouts took their act to the big hotel showrooms, east coast, Chicago and Montrial. We always had 49th State records playing. Later, I studied hula, made my own Ipu Heke & learned ukulele. It has greatly enhanced my life and I truly appreciate this depth to explain what makes Hawaii and hula so special. Mahalo.
So beautiful and powerful! It was like a candy for the spirit. People of Hawaii still remember who they really are. Mahalo for bringing this ancient way of life back to light. It is very important knowledge we all need to cherish. Amazingly beautiful video, like always. Thank you and Aloha.
When Kuha’o started singing at 3:52 it was so beautiful! I didn’t understand the words but I could feel the plants being receptive to his request. They were happy to oblige! Such a beautiful video. Thanks Sam 🌿🍃
Maika'i and Mahalo nui loa for sharing our culture and history ❤. As a Kanaka Maoli and a hula dancer myself, one never retired from dancing hula is LIFE 😊
Wow, Sam! The level of storytelling in this is insane! Can't wait for you to release a feature-length one day! loved the variation between the grades as well. They all tied in together super nicely! What lenses are you using out of interest?
I have zero connection to Hawaii, but I have goosebumps and I’m crying. This dance is spiritual and I felt it. This video needs to be seen by more people.
I was crying throughout the whole documentary. Your sincere and unconditional love for Hawaii is felt through each shot in this video. How well you transcend the atmosphere, the peace, the love, I can not express enough gratitude for this unique video and amazing storytelling. I am a girl from Kazakhstan, living in Spain, but since childhood, I have had a deep feeling of connection with Polynesian cultures, and especially Kanaka Maoli. I have always dreamt of visiting Hawaii and learning more about the history of this unique place. Each of your videos feels like I am living through them. I have a strong feeling that in one of my past lives I was Polynesian, however crazy that wouldn't sound.
@@Billy23562mahalo🤙🏽 I was working in radio on the Big Island for many years, and wanted to try a bigger market. Grateful that I was able to find work in my field in Japan. Hawai’i will always be home though.
So awesome. I did not realize the sugnifcence of hula until I went to Hawai'i and saw it in person. I was completely mezmerized and deeply move by it. I love the culture.
This video brought me to tears. I'm not familiar with the Hawaiian culture at all, and this was a great lesson. Thank you for your work, and thank you to all these people allowing Hula to still be alive knowing all the sad things that happened. This is so precious, and we must protect these people and their culture at all costs. Thank you for giving them visibility and allowing us to have a glimpse on their beautiful and much needed philosophy (especially with the curent situation on our planet). Much love from Switzerland
Great video brother ❤ I Loved how you showed their culture and I love their traditional music and dance in the second half of the video🪩 Hula is hawaii 🍁🤍🍁
Even the filming, the rhythm, the storytelling of this short film are impregnated with Hula. Thanks for this beautiful work. To those who know, if one wanted to have an immersive experience learning Hula for 3 months, where would you recommend me to go? Ideally where I can offer work in exchange of accommodation and Hula classes, so to breath it in my every day life. During the pandemic I felt the call and since then I've been looking for places to learn but where I live in EU there's nothing available.Thanks in advance.
Preserving history and real knowledge through movement. Kinetic memory, in song , dance, training and story. This is our true heritage, and it can be seen in many cultures. Thank you for this amazing insight.
So much aloha for you Sam, as someone who loves a good story, you pretty much nail it on the head every single time without failure. Making these short stories about Hawai'i hits so hard for me (in a good way). So wit that being said, mahalo nui a loa e Sam Potter, you truly are an artist and have my utmost respect at every level
I am so impressed! You make the most beautiful documentaries I’ve ever seen. And I really love documentaries. But this is really next level… movie night!
Such a beautiful art form... and, as usual, you've done a great job of capturing it and sharing the history behind it. This should be shown on flights to the islands as an intro to Hawaiian culture.
this is very high quality, from the cutting, music, lighting, filming, to the script. How is this freely available on RUclips? Amazing! AND you're charming.
So proud of my sister in law she is a traditional teacher of Hawaiian dance and chant sharing around the world Paddy Kauhane is working with the boys and girls club of Hawaii It’s so important that the new generations continue with this beautiful journey
Thank you so much for this video. This message really needs to get out to the world. So many are separated from our true nature which is why the world is in this state. Beautifully produced.
of course he's going to release it on Merrie Monarch morning. YESSAH BRADDAH 🤙 edit after watching: this is an amazing video. amazing people, amazing knowledge. it's merrie monarch, the perfect time for such a masterpiece. because of that, I must say, Mahalo for this. I know your videos on this series....iiit's just gonna get better and better and better 😎
Very well done video!! That gave me chicken skin! I was born and raised in Hawaii and was lucky enough to learn a little hula from my 3 years attending Mid Pacific Institute. I so miss it.
Aloha ❤ from Germany - the HALE ALOHA. This doku is amazing good. So lovely filmed - so deep - you wonderfully convey the mood and the magic of the hula and the spirit of Hawai'i. Mahalo nui loa 🥰🙏
Love it so much! I'm so stoked to get back to work on my projects...I'm going to get back to writing scripts now. So tomorrow I can get out and climb..and then get to filming out there. Thanks as always. You're a beast. 🙌
Really though. I love how not basic it is. I feel like any Hawaiian can watch this an learn something or at least enjoy it. Not just putting out content that will appeal retain the attention of someone who doesn't know anything about Hawaii. I hope to do the same...but not about Hawaii.🤣
Absolutely Epic Content & Message! Mahalo nui for your work on this topic and on all the work you're doing through your channel. Keep shining your gift brightly to the world for those who have no voice. Mālama i kekahi i kekahi - Care for each other 🤙
this was actually beautiful, such a well shot movie! you really encapsulated the essence of hula, it was so nice to watch. i'm all about learning different cultures + seeing videos produced like this inspire me when creating my own. i'm excited for the day i get to visit hawai'i ✨
I would like native Hawaiians to keep their culture alive. As a Pacific islander at the far end of the South Pacific, PNG, I see our cultures are slowing disappearing. May our future generations keep our cultures alive.
WHAT?! Zane? I talk with him so many times when I worked downtown Hilo at Moon and Turtle and elsewhere. He never mentioned anything about who he was or his knowledge. He is so humble. He is so kind. I don’t remember a lot of people, but I remember him. I was so comfortable and relaxed when he came around. I feel so unlettered for not knowing who I was talking with. He probably knows my family. I’m back in Hilo, hopefully I run into him again soon.
Thank you for this mesmerizing and touching film… i have been fascinated by the Hawaiian culture and language for a few years now and this film made me certain that i need to take a bigger step on deepening my knowledge about Hawaii ✨
Am so grateful that my Kumu Haku was Raylene Ha'alelea Kawaiae'a 23 years ago at Kamame'e North Kohala ... who never compromised her guidance ... and whose seer abilities changed my life forever.
Now everyone go tune into Merrie Monarch Festival, happening now in Hilo! =^.^=
YESSAH
@@CaptainPotterthe men dancers are my favorite
I have lived in Hawaii for 15 years, and it is the first time I watched Merrie Monarch. I watched most of yesterday and today...then they just announced the winners. I managed to pick the first place winners, purely based on the emotion that they evoked in me. My heart is full. Mahalo.
This was wonderful. I am a haole from the mainland who lived in Hawaii for four years and fell in love with the culture and the people. Years later, I had the great fortune and privilege to join a hula halau on the mainland and study with a kumu. We learned chanting, both hula kahiko and hula ʻauana, made our own pa'u skirts and I also learned how to play the ukulele. It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life to be in that halau with my kumu and my sisters. It is forever a part of me.
Your Mainland is Called America, for us Kanaka, Hawai’i is ours. It’s important as Haole to recognize Hawaiis History. Much Aloha
❤❤❤🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽 I love how you embrace the culture. You understand "haole" is not derogatory. I am Hawaiian Chinese English Portuguese and Polish. My haole ancestors came to Hawaii in the 1800s, white men who embraced the culture and assimilated. Their keiki spoke Hawaiian in the home. Aloha my bruddah
your story warms my heart as a kanaka maoli... mahalo nui for sharing and spreading aloha everywhere you go.
I woukd like to go to Hawaii ans learn all that !!
❤ Aloha from Gernany 🥰🙏
This video summarizes why I chose environmental studies as my major. Not only is it important to know in a scientific way how this world flows, but also within us & how we are connected to it. I think we often forget that we are just guests here. Sending love from Florida.
The world wasn’t created for humans, humans were created not only for but from the world. We indeed are only a small part of this grand creation
Insanely beautiful! What a true cinematic documentary that the world needs to see.
Hula and chants are the spiritual heartbeats of Hawaii.
Much mahalo for this. It brought our ohana to tears. Thank you for honoring the people of Hawai’i. Please continue your work. It is so important.
Mahalo for watching - so happy the ohana enjoyed
That was beautiful it needs to be longer. It needs to be a Netflix special. The world needs to see this and have an understanding even though we’re humans were a small part of what this universe with this world with this earth is about.
❤
I would want to see this as a Netflix movie indeed.
What a beautiful film. It was my good fortune to live in Hawaii when I was young. This is a Hawaiian story, but it applies to ancient culture and traditions everywhere. This is what we must cherish and preserve.
Hula is a important part of our Native Hawaiian Culture and heritage, that has been around for more then a hundreds of years taught to us by our ancestors and by our kupuna and our kumu. It is telling the stories of the past present and future. That is what makes hula dancing a part of our lives.
A wonderful explanation of the hula and all the associations that come with it in Halau. I live in Oakland CA and have traveled often to Hawaii. I came to love hula and mele from my mother, who learned hula from Hawaiian roustabouts when she was in the A.G.Barnes circus. After the circus closed down she and the roustabouts took their act to the big hotel showrooms, east coast, Chicago and Montrial. We always had 49th State records playing. Later, I studied hula, made my own Ipu Heke & learned ukulele. It has greatly enhanced my life and I truly appreciate this
depth to explain what makes Hawaii and hula so special. Mahalo.
It’s sad how short form content rules RUclips now. This deserves way more attention and likes. Well done man!
Thank you for the beautiful lesson on what is Hawaii .Blessings to you!
So beautiful and powerful! It was like a candy for the spirit. People of Hawaii still remember who they really are. Mahalo for bringing this ancient way of life back to light. It is very important knowledge we all need to cherish. Amazingly beautiful video, like always. Thank you and Aloha.
Glad you enjoyed it
When Kuha’o started singing at 3:52 it was so beautiful! I didn’t understand the words but I could feel the plants being receptive to his request. They were happy to oblige! Such a beautiful video. Thanks Sam 🌿🍃
Thank you so much!!
Maika'i and Mahalo nui loa for sharing our culture and history ❤. As a Kanaka Maoli and a hula dancer myself, one never retired from dancing hula is LIFE 😊
❤❤❤❤
Beautiful 💜Aloha
Wow, Sam! The level of storytelling in this is insane! Can't wait for you to release a feature-length one day! loved the variation between the grades as well. They all tied in together super nicely! What lenses are you using out of interest?
Thanks a ton!
Splendid pulse of sacred place(s) 🙏🏼🤍🙌🏽🌺💧🌱
Mahalo nui for this, it is more than just a dance it is a way of life. Maika'i so appreciate you and your videos. The tears are flowing.
Mahalo mahalo
I have zero connection to Hawaii, but I have goosebumps and I’m crying. This dance is spiritual and I felt it. This video needs to be seen by more people.
If you get it from this, visit! It’s when more overwhelming in person.
I agree completely 💓
You said it 💯👍
Makes me wish I was Hawaiian ❤
You felt the mana , is the energy of life , I felt it since I was a teen I was playing trying to imitate the dancers but 😮then I knew it was for real
Glorious and in sacred unison with all there is, all there has ever been and all there will be ❤
That brought a few tears to my eyes. So beautiful. Greetings from Germany💚
Wow, thank you!
Beautiful storytelling. The cinematography and sound design is immaculate 🤌🏼
“Hula is the language of the heart, therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people”❤❤❤#MMdaswhy
♥️🌺👑
Beautifully done, the Lady who leads the dancers is a force of nature. Sam waiting for you to break out in some hula dance:)
I was crying throughout the whole documentary. Your sincere and unconditional love for Hawaii is felt through each shot in this video. How well you transcend the atmosphere, the peace, the love, I can not express enough gratitude for this unique video and amazing storytelling. I am a girl from Kazakhstan, living in Spain, but since childhood, I have had a deep feeling of connection with Polynesian cultures, and especially Kanaka Maoli. I have always dreamt of visiting Hawaii and learning more about the history of this unique place. Each of your videos feels like I am living through them. I have a strong feeling that in one of my past lives I was Polynesian, however crazy that wouldn't sound.
Great Job! mahalo for highlighting the art of hula!
Awesome video! I really enjoy your work! Good to see my Big Island braddah Kuha'o. Aloha from Yokohama, Japan🤙
Mahalo you!! Hope to find myself in Japan again soon ❤
Why’d you move to Japan
@@Billy23562mahalo🤙🏽 I was working in radio on the Big Island for many years, and wanted to try a bigger market. Grateful that I was able to find work in my field in Japan. Hawai’i will always be home though.
thank you for your video showing truth and life. It’s truly respectful
Always
Beautiful, ethereal short film on Hula. Was magical to watch.
Kuhao!! Stoked. Love this. Mahalo!
This is such an important video and very well done! Thank you Sam and the people of Hawaii for sharing Hula with us!❤❤❤
❤❤❤
This was filmed so beautifully 🤙🏽🤙🏽
Excellent. Beautiful beyond words.
Many thanks!
Beautifully done Mr. Potter! Mahalo for the careful approach you take to conveying our culture.
Mahalo for supporting and sharing our culture. I enjoyed every bit of this! 🤙🏽
Our pleasure!
the why thank you after the chant hella cute haha. good work kuhao
Bahahah
commenting for the algorythm - this deserves more views.
So awesome. I did not realize the sugnifcence of hula until I went to Hawai'i and saw it in person. I was completely mezmerized and deeply move by it. I love the culture.
Thanks for another incredible video!!❤
Mahalo Nui for sharing this!! THIS is what makes Hawaii, it's history, the people, the lineages, and the islands so beautiful!
Well done, well executed. Mahalo nu nui for this piece of beautiful storytelling.
This video brought me to tears. I'm not familiar with the Hawaiian culture at all, and this was a great lesson. Thank you for your work, and thank you to all these people allowing Hula to still be alive knowing all the sad things that happened. This is so precious, and we must protect these people and their culture at all costs. Thank you for giving them visibility and allowing us to have a glimpse on their beautiful and much needed philosophy (especially with the curent situation on our planet). Much love from Switzerland
Great video brother ❤
I Loved how you showed their culture and
I love their traditional music and dance in the second half of the video🪩
Hula is hawaii 🍁🤍🍁
This was a great hula preview and I like that spiritual aspects and thoughts that go into pounding kapa. Mahalo Travis.
You have such a gift Sam! And what you are doing for kanaka is Gods work ❤ this is exquisite!
So beautiful ♥🌿 Greetings from Switzerland
Even the filming, the rhythm, the storytelling of this short film are impregnated with Hula. Thanks for this beautiful work.
To those who know, if one wanted to have an immersive experience learning Hula for 3 months, where would you recommend me to go? Ideally where I can offer work in exchange of accommodation and Hula classes, so to breath it in my every day life. During the pandemic I felt the call and since then I've been looking for places to learn but where I live in EU there's nothing available.Thanks in advance.
Gorgeously done
Mahalo
Preserving history and real knowledge through movement. Kinetic memory, in song , dance, training and story. This is our true heritage, and it can be seen in many cultures. Thank you for this amazing insight.
So beautiful. So organic. Truly the essence of connection.
So much aloha for you Sam, as someone who loves a good story, you pretty much nail it on the head every single time without failure. Making these short stories about Hawai'i hits so hard for me (in a good way). So wit that being said, mahalo nui a loa e Sam Potter, you truly are an artist and have my utmost respect at every level
Wow, thank you!
Beautiful as all ways. Every video you upload makes me emotional. I miss my Ohana in O'hau. Mahalo nui loa from the bottom of my heart!
Amazing work as always! I’ve been subscribed for years and all your videos are so beautiful💜🪼🦋🦎
Thank you so much!
I am so impressed! You make the most beautiful documentaries I’ve ever seen. And I really love documentaries. But this is really next level… movie night!
Powerful!!!!!! Thank you
absolutely beautiful
Mahalo for this beautiful film. I am a hula novice and this taught me so much.
Dancing Hula myself for nearly 25 years this is now my favorite film about Hula after Holo Mai Pele...well done!❤
Thank you for this beautiful video. I used this in my classes today.
Glad it was helpful!
If only I could put into words how great this is❤️🌏
As always...absolutely beautiful Sam! Mahalo Nui!
Such a beautiful art form... and, as usual, you've done a great job of capturing it and sharing the history behind it. This should be shown on flights to the islands as an intro to Hawaiian culture.
Thank you so much 😀
Also, narration and production value is superb. Mahalo.
Thank you kindly!
I love all your videos dude they’ve full inspired my life 🤙🏼
Glad you like them!
this is very high quality, from the cutting, music, lighting, filming, to the script. How is this freely available on RUclips? Amazing! AND you're charming.
Everyone wants to dance the hula but, living through the hula stories of our kupuna is where life begins and continues.
So proud of my sister in law she is a traditional teacher of Hawaiian dance and chant sharing around the world Paddy Kauhane is working with the boys and girls club of Hawaii
It’s so important that the new generations continue with this beautiful journey
❤🪃☀️🫶🌊♾️
Thank you so much for this video. This message really needs to get out to the world.
So many are separated from our true nature which is why the world is in this state.
Beautifully produced.
of course he's going to release it on Merrie Monarch morning. YESSAH BRADDAH 🤙
edit after watching: this is an amazing video. amazing people, amazing knowledge. it's merrie monarch, the perfect time for such a masterpiece. because of that, I must say, Mahalo for this. I know your videos on this series....iiit's just gonna get better and better and better 😎
YOU KNOW DA RULES CHEEEEE
iiiiit's merrriie monarch cuuuuz 🤙 have a great weekend!!!!1@@CaptainPotter
Very well done video!! That gave me chicken skin! I was born and raised in Hawaii and was lucky enough to learn a little hula from my 3 years attending Mid Pacific Institute. I so miss it.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Aloha ❤ from Germany - the HALE ALOHA. This doku is amazing good. So lovely filmed - so deep - you wonderfully convey the mood and the magic of the hula and the spirit of Hawai'i. Mahalo nui loa 🥰🙏
Such a nice video. Respect for all the work
beautiful, just beautiful!!! and amazing editing, helps to tell the story more powerfully
Beautiful tribute to us islanders thank you ❤
Love it so much! I'm so stoked to get back to work on my projects...I'm going to get back to writing scripts now. So tomorrow I can get out and climb..and then get to filming out there. Thanks as always. You're a beast. 🙌
Really though. I love how not basic it is. I feel like any Hawaiian can watch this an learn something or at least enjoy it. Not just putting out content that will appeal retain the attention of someone who doesn't know anything about Hawaii.
I hope to do the same...but not about Hawaii.🤣
Have fun!
Hauntingly beautiful! Thank you for this!
Absolutely Epic Content & Message! Mahalo nui for your work on this topic and on all the work you're doing through your channel. Keep shining your gift brightly to the world for those who have no voice. Mālama i kekahi i kekahi - Care for each other 🤙
Powerful.
Bro! Great job! As a filmmaker I can’t praise you enough for those anamorphic lens closeup shots!! Cheers
I appreciate that!
Hyped!
this was actually beautiful, such a well shot movie! you really encapsulated the essence of hula, it was so nice to watch. i'm all about learning different cultures + seeing videos produced like this inspire me when creating my own. i'm excited for the day i get to visit hawai'i ✨
This speaks to the depths of my soul. Thank you
What a beautiful telling! Thank you so much
so beautiful! tears in my eyes
This was well put together. Thank you.
Mahalo nui for your work. Hula and heart!
I would like native Hawaiians to keep their culture alive. As a Pacific islander at the far end of the South Pacific, PNG, I see our cultures are slowing disappearing. May our future generations keep our cultures alive.
absolutely stunning work! learned so much!!
Amazing video! Which lenses did you guys shoot this on?
Keep it alive 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾🙏🏾🙌🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾
WHAT?! Zane? I talk with him so many times when I worked downtown Hilo at Moon and Turtle and elsewhere. He never mentioned anything about who he was or his knowledge. He is so humble. He is so kind. I don’t remember a lot of people, but I remember him. I was so comfortable and relaxed when he came around.
I feel so unlettered for not knowing who I was talking with.
He probably knows my family. I’m back in Hilo, hopefully I run into him again soon.
Beautifully filmed. I can relate to the connection with nature and ancestors, and would really love to see a translation of the songs.
Thank you for this mesmerizing and touching film… i have been fascinated by the Hawaiian culture and language for a few years now and this film made me certain that i need to take a bigger step on deepening my knowledge about Hawaii ✨
Glad you enjoyed it!
I got so emotional..
Aloha 'aina. This is soul beautiful. Mahalo.
Mahalo for your representation of Hawai’i. 🤙🏼
Always!
Am so grateful that my Kumu Haku was Raylene Ha'alelea Kawaiae'a 23 years ago at Kamame'e North Kohala ... who never compromised her guidance ... and whose seer abilities changed my life forever.
❤❤
Thank you for sharing this wonderful culture. Keep going:)
Thank you, I will
Great video work. Love the story!