Meanings
nounhalau (plural halaus)
plural halaus
- A school or group of hula dancers.
It seemed like we were always preparing for a contest or watching other hula halaus[…]
2000, Rosemary Patterson, An End to Innocence, page 211 more example
In 1980 I became an active member in three halaus in California and danced professionally for Aunty Ilima and Uncle Jr. Montgomery for the following eighteen years.
2004, Shari 'Iolani Floyd Berinobis, The spirit of hula: photos and stories from around the world, page 58
Origin
- Proto-Polynesian*falau
- Hawaiianhāla
- Englishhalau
Borrowed from Hawaiian hālau.
More words from Hawaiian
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
halau. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/halau
MLA
“halau.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/halau. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “halau,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/halau.
Source: halau on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.