SAN RAMON, Calif. — “Hula is the language of the heart, and therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people,” says Desiree Elder, a Hula instructor with the Polynesian dance revue, Island Spice.

“Many people visit Hawaii,” Elder says, “and they think that Hula is just wiggling around. But Hula is so much more than that.”

Elder teaches Hula to all ages, but her most unique class is probably the 55-and-over instruction for mature adults taught at San Ramon-Alcosta Senior and Community Center.

“The soft, graceful movements are really fun to do,” says Fiona Waterhouse, one of Elders students. “And the beautiful music which evokes everything Hawaiian.”

“This is like a godsend class,” adds another student.

Elder says she particularly enjoys teaching seniors because they’re a very engaging group of people.

“They want to learn,” she says, “they’re not done with life, they want to learn, they want to exercise.”

Many of Elders students agree, Hula dancing gives them an opportunity to move and exercise their bodies and their minds. They often give each other tips on how to learn the dance moves, allowing them to socialize and build friendships as well.

“When we came to this class, we didn’t know each other,” says Haldis Maeda, a student of the 55+ beginners class. “I had to learn all the different movements and what they’re called. And it’s really nice, because you’re all learning together. So it’s kind of like you’re helping one another out.”

Beyond creating friendships, the class immerses students in Hawaiian culture.

“When you teach them about Hula, you just can’t teach them moves and language,” says Elder, “They also learn about basic Hula dance traditions, because there are a lot of traditions that go with dancing Hula. How to stand, how to put your costume on, so there are a lot of different aspects of the Hawaiian culture that get brought into classes.”

Elder says learning about Hawaiian culture and Hula is especially impactful during Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage month.

“People from all over the world go to Hawaii and go there for vacation,” she says. “And then you forget about Hawaii. Hawaii has its own unique culture, you have a place that actually had a kingdom on United States land. It’s the only place that has a palace in the U.S. So it’s a very unique type of culture. And for people to recognize that during this month, AAPI heritage month, it’s very good because get a chance to be more inquisitive about it. Maybe they look into it, maybe take a Hula class, maybe buy a book about Hula, or about Hawaii in general.”

AAPI Heritage Month celebrates the accomplishments of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Through hula, these seniors honor the traditions of the islands.

“Every time we come together and dance hula,” Elder says, “we celebrate the Hawaiian culture.”

To learn more, and to sign up for a hula class, visit here.

• Merrie Monarch is an annual festival in Hilo, Hawaii.
• It celebrates Hawaiian traditions with craft fairs, parades, and hula competitions.
• This article is part of “Community in Focus,” a series highlighting Asian and Pacific Islander events.

As the sun set over the misty town of Hilo, Hawaii, on April 6, about 4,000 people stood up from their seats in the Edith Kanakaʻole stadium and joined hands.

They swayed in unison, their voices reverberating off the bleachers and walls to the tune of “Hawaii Aloha,” a song locals often sing to mark the end of a cultural celebration. This time, they were saying goodbye to Merrie Monarch, an annual weeklong festival for honoring native Hawaiian traditions such as hula and craft making.

When I was growing up in Hilo, attending Merrie Monarch was the highlight of my year. My grandmother would take me to hotels around Hilo, where my uncles would perform Hawaiian music and children would dance the hula, big smiles plastered on their faces. The hotels buzzed with excitement as artisans showcased their crafts, and the scent of traditional Hawaiian delicacies filled the air. At the Merrie Monarch Royal Parade, I was enchanted as horseback riders floated by wearing colorful leis and long pāʻū skirts.

The festival, which started on March 31 this year, is marked by a mass migration of Hawaiians to Hilo on the state’s Big Island, also called Hawaii.

These Hawaiians — largely hula dancers who have dedicated their lives to mastering the ancestral dance — overtake the small town of Hilo, bringing with them custom-made hula garments, intricate handmade goods, delectable eats, and goosebump-inducing song and dance.

“It truly is the finest time in Hawaii,” Dillon Ancheta, a Hawaiian-born journalist who has covered Merrie Monarch celebrations for the past five years, told Business Insider. “It feels like the entire state gets excited for Merrie Monarch, and the absolute best of our culture is on display.”

Take a look inside this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival.

A warning has been issued for a “Kona Low” which has hit Hawaii and several of its islands which are set for a “multi-day heavy rain event.”

The seasonal cyclone developed over the state on Tuesday night, leading to flood advisories being posted for Kauai, Oahu and Maui in particular.

“Excessive rainfall and flash flooding is a concern” in these places, the National Weather Service (NWS) said in its most recent area forecast discussion.

Forecasters went on to describe the “multi-day rain event” as “like a fire hose shooting water.”

A “Kona Low” is a tropical storm that turns the wind around in the opposite direction, bringing moisture-heavy air.

Its showers are expected to increase throughout Wednesday, especially over the western half of the state, with heavy bands of rain developing with embedded thunderstorms. These will start over Oahu and move eastward towards Maui County by the evening.

The NWS said: “Wednesday night into Thursday looks to the time period for the potential for flash flooding is the highest.

“Due to the widespread rain event, large rises should be expected over streams.

“A Flood Watch is in effect for the entire state starting Wednesday, but for the Wednesday and Thursday time frame, the greatest chance for flooding impacts will be over Oahu and Maui County with Big Island seeing the least chance for flooding impacts.”

Thursday and Thursday night could see a slight decrease in rain rates, but “a steady stream of moisture with prolonged periods of moderate to locally heavy rain will persist around Oahu and Maui County throughout the day.”

By Friday, the “Kona Low” will have begun shifting westward and drier winds will develop over the eastern part of the state—this will decrease the flooding dangers but showers are still possible.

Places like Kauai, in the west, will likely see “persistent showery weather” by this point, although not as widespread as the east will have seen over the next two days.

Even more water is set to be pulled towards Kauai and Oahu, “possibly even in excess of two inches,” the NWS said. This means “significant flooding impacts over Kauai this weekend.”

People have been warned that there may be property damage in urban or low-lying spots due to runoff, with the possibility of landslides in steep areas.

Honolulu’s Flood Watch says: “You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

“Remember that it does not have to be raining at your location for flash flooding to occur. If you notice signs of heavy rain or thunderstorms upslope, move quickly away from flood-prone areas.”