Kumu Hula (Hula Teacher)

Also called: Hula Instructor, Hālau Leader

Teaches hula and the chants, language, and traditions behind it, often running a hālau (hula school) in Hawaiʻi or on the mainland.

A day in the life

A kumu hula leads evening practice, chanting while students repeat steps that tell the story of a Hawaiian legend. They teach the meaning of each Hawaiian word, prepare the hālau for competitions like the Merrie Monarch Festival, and perform at community events.

Pay over a career

Starting
$15k
Typical
$35k
High
$70k

Approximate; most run a hālau as a small business and earn from classes and performances.

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

Apprenticeship, about 8 years after high school. Many years of training under a kumu hula, ending in a traditional graduation (ʻūniki).

Ways in: Apprenticeship. Training cost: Under $15k.

Majors to look at: Hawaiian Studies, Dance.

Outlook

Growing about average. Steady interest in Hawaiian culture across the US.

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Low risk for 10 years. Teaching living cultural traditions face to face can't be automated.

Start now, in high school

Classes: Dance, Hawaiian or another world language, Pacific Islands history.

More Dance careers

Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.