Bringing hula to ‘Lilo & Stitch’

Laura Sturza

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.”