My "Mask Dance"

I think that the story Mask Dance relates very well with me because hula is something that means a lot to me and keeps me in touch with my Hawaiian heritage.  Now that I am away from home, it means even more to me than before.  I think that hula is a skill that I have which is something that keeps me in touch with where I come from and who I am.  I have been dancing hula for 9 years now.  All of the different chants and dances that I have learned all tell different stories about the islands and its history.  When I learn a different chant or dance my kumu hula (teacher) always would tell us about the history of each of the dances and why we perform this dance.  Through hula I have learned a lot about Hawai'i and the different cultures and traditions that were practiced by the native Hawaiians.  I love to share my talent of hula with everyone because I love, appreciate, am proud of where I come from and how I got here because without the hard work and sacrifices that my ancestors had to make, I would not be here right now and truly would not be the same person.