Hawaiian Vibes for People in Their 50s and Up! Ilikea Hula Studio’s Hula Dancing Looks Like So Much Fun【Nishitsu Ad】

It suddenly got really cold lately, hasn’t it?

When it’s this cold… doesn’t it make you want to go to Hawaii!?

Ahh, dream destination Hawaii! I want to go somewhere tropical! I can’t, but at least I want to soak up the atmosphere… just a little!!

When you think of Hawaii, you think of hula dancing! It’s been so cold lately that I haven’t been moving much, so maybe I’d like to get some fun exercise through hula

So we came to “Ilikai Hula Studio” in Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi!

Here it is on the map↓

The address is Mutsumi Building 4F, 1-9-8 Kofuen, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture.

Speaking of hula dancing, the movie “Hula Girls” was so moving, wasn’t it? Yu Aoi, who starred in it, was recently in a morning drama too, and there were scenes that reminded me of the movie. It felt nostalgic

（This feels like a moment where I can’t say I haven’t seen either the movie or the morning drama… I’ll keep quiet）

Take the elevator at the back of the building up to the 4th floor! Open the door full of Hawaii vibes, and there you’ll find…!

Welcome to Ilikai Hula Studio! Today, please enjoy watching our hula girls’ lesson!

Sachiko Kumaguchi, representative of “Ilikai Hula Studio,” began hula in 1990 and is a hula dancer who has even won the King Kamehameha Hula Competition held in Honolulu! She teaches a wide range of students, from beginners to experienced dancers.

Everyone is taking the lesson so seriously! Lovely! People of all different ages are joining in

Most students are in their 40s to 60s, but we also have students in their 80s and 90s. It’s something you can keep enjoying for a long time

Every hula movement has meaning, and the choreography follows the lyrics of the song. Beginners start by learning basic steps and movements while enjoying the lessons

Even their expressions while dancing match the song and choreography. It’s almost like a musical!

Huh? This song doesn’t sound very hula-like? Is it a Christmas song?

People in Hawaii actually love Christmas songs! They usually only see snow piled up on the mountains from far away, and it doesn’t snow in town, so they admire the idea of walking through falling snow.

Wow! That’s a little surprising, but I guess it makes sense to long for an environment that’s the complete opposite

By the way, I’ve been wondering for a while now. What is this big gourd-like thing you were using to keep the rhythm for the dance?

This is a traditional Hawaiian percussion instrument called an “ipu heke.” Instruments with pitch, like the ukulele, came from overseas, so traditional Hawaiian instruments are percussion instruments

Wow! By learning about hula, you can also learn about Hawaiian history and culture

I was completely captivated by everyone’s wonderful dancing! I got to fully enjoy that Hawaii feeling!

↑Inside the studio, lots of beautiful Hawaiian plants are grown, letting you feel a breath of Hawaii!

Using real flowers like these as hair ornaments, and making costumes using only natural materials, is the traditional Hawaiian stage costume style

On an actual stage, we dance wearing costumes like this!

Wow, that’s so beautiful!! The Hawaii vibe is amazing!! Maybe someday I’ll become a hula girl in a costume like this too…!? Sounds pretty nice!

Ilikai Hula Studio has lots of show and event appearances planned coming up!

It might be nice to start by going to see an actual performance and getting a feel for the atmosphere of hula