Be a Hula Girl

Opening with inspiring shots of authentic hula groups and stressing that hula dancing aligns the body, mind and spirit, Be a Hula Girl features instructor Leina' ala Kuloloio leading a half-dozen young girls through the basic hula movements on a pair of songs--the "Hukilau Song" and "Pearly Shells." Alas, it seems the girls have not practiced enough (evident from Kuloloio's frequent admonition to various charges to "switch your hand"), perhaps due to the extracurricular activities shown in a pointless between songs scene featuring the girls picking out leis while lush flowers fall from the heavens. After the songs, Kuloloio insists they are ready to perform on stage, and the girls are whisked to a tropical oasis where they apply their own makeup (definitely a no-no when I was six), before assembling on a makeshift stage (most likely at a park, judging by the number of oblivious folk walking by during the "performance") and struggle through their routine, graceless and grimacing throughout. What sets this one apart from many other talent-less instructional videos for kids, however, is the laughably transparent objective to sell hula costumes (so pronounced that even the video box says "instructional video and hula costume"). Not recommended. A better choice here would be Hula for Children! (VL-1/99) Aud: P. (J. Williams)