Knowra Music of Polynesia Music of Polynesia Music of Polynesia encompasses Indigenous musical traditions and later genres shaped by migration, colonialism, Christianity, and cultural exchange across Polynesian islands.
Hula : A Hawaiian performance tradition combining dance, chant, and, in many forms, instrumental music. Hawaiian hula joins movement and song in a tradition with distinct chant and accompaniment styles.
Polynesian navigation : The seafaring knowledge and practices Polynesian peoples used to explore and settle the Pacific. The settlement of widely separated islands created the regional settings for distinct musical traditions.
Merrie Monarch Festival : An annual Hawaii festival and hula competition held in Hilo, founded in 1963. The festival has helped sustain and publicize hula and Hawaiian music.
Music of Micronesia : The musical traditions of Micronesian societies, including vocal, instrumental, and dance music. Micronesian traditions provide a neighboring Pacific comparison without conflating distinct cultural regions.
Hawaiian chant : A Hawaiian vocal art that preserves histories, genealogies, prayers, and poetry through structured chant. Chant is a central vocal form in Hawaiian music and often accompanies hula.
Austronesian languages : A language family spread across Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, including Polynesian languages. Shared linguistic ancestry helps explain connections among Polynesian song traditions.
Polynesian Cultural Center : A cultural attraction in Hawaii featuring performances and exhibits representing several Pacific Island cultures. Its staged music and dance show how Polynesian traditions are presented for public audiences.
Music of Melanesia : The varied musical traditions of Melanesian societies, including distinctive vocal, instrumental, and ceremonial forms. Melanesian music offers a regional contrast to Polynesian traditions within the Pacific.
Ukulele : A small, four-stringed instrument developed in Hawaii from Portuguese instruments brought by immigrants. The ukulele became a widely recognized instrument in Hawaiian music and its later popular styles.
Polynesian settlement of Hawaii : The migration and settlement of Polynesian voyagers in the Hawaiian Islands, established centuries before European contact. Hawaiian musical traditions developed from the island's Polynesian settlement and subsequent history.
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