That the hula was performed only be men in ancient times is not confirmed by any documentary evidence. Accounts by the Hawaiian scholars of the 19th century make no such statement, nor do the early accounts of the 20th century. The first written record of hula dancing in Hawai'i, made in 1778 described women as dancing. Before that date the only records are those of legends, which tell not only of women performing the hula, but also as being amoung the earliest practitioners of the art.
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