Abstract
The ʻAʻa i ka Hula Project is an immersive reality experience that functions as an educational tool to teach users the basic foundations of hula. The program was developed as a collaborative project between the Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language and the computer science and arts department at the University of Hawaii at Hilo in collaboration with the University of Hawaii’s academy for Creative Media. The program uses an immersive reality experience to teach users the basic foundations of traditional hula. This program was initially developed in unity to be accessible through the Oculus Rift virtual reality device, but has since been extended to incorporate large displays along with motion tracking technology. The program allows users to learn the basic premises and cultural importance of Hula through a series of tutorials and provides feedback on their progress with the basic movements. The The ʻAʻa i ka Hula Project in no way supplants the knowledge gained in a formal halau under the direction of a kumu hula. However, the technology allows the art to reach a wider audience. It further helps to educate users as to the existence of hula forms beyond Hula ‘Auana, which is the form most popularized in western media.
Presenters
Harry "Keith" EdwardsProfessor, Computer Science, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hawaii, United States Michael Peterson
Associate Professor & Chair, Computer Science, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hawaii, United States Francis Ray Cristobal
Faculty Specialist, Computer Science, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Past and Present in the Humanistic Education
KEYWORDS
Immersive Reality, Computer Visualization, Hula, Cultural Communication
