Costuming
The traditional grass skirt, or Mo’re (pronounced More Ray) is not made from grass at all but from the inner bark of the purau or wild hibiscus tree. The bark is stripped off in layers from the main stem of the branches, then soaked in water until the layers can be easily separated. The outer layers are stripped and discarded. The silky light-coloured inner layers are rinsed and left to dry in the sun then brushed with metal brushes to finely shred. These are looped individually around a rope made from the same fibers. When the rope is completely covered with strands to the required size, a cloth waistband is attached to it. A skirt will require approximately 5000 strands. Tassels, flower designs, shells, and other items are also used to enhance the more skirt, which accentuates the movement of the hips. A mo’re can weigh as much as seven or 12 pounds. Dancers find that the heavier the skirts, the better the swaying motion as they move their hips. The heavier the skirt, the less it is likely to slip during the dance. Cheaper artificial skirts are available along with skirts made from raffia. But these are cheap materials which simply do not move in the special way of hibiscus bark. The cellophane skirts are flammable and flimsy, and raffia is too stiff and crinkly.

The Hip Belt
Consisting of a wide band of fabric decorated with mother of pearl shells, wooden beads, cowrie shells, etc, and is usually smothered in a double row of hibiscus bark tassels. Feathers can be added to increase colour and movement. Sometimes the belts consist of a shorter version of the skirt itself. Other styles include layers of shredded fabric. Some belts are made from bushy green Ti leaves.

Headdress
The Otea headdress is usually made from coque feathers and/or hibiscus bark and decorated with shells. They are often very tall and imposing which balances out the fullness of the mo’re skirt. The rooster tail feathers are extremely expensive, costing anything up to £80 a foot! Other headdresses are made from circlets of flowers or Ti leaves.

Bras
Coconut bras are worn, but are simply not practical if you have a bra size bigger than a A cup! They are totally unsupportive and not very comfortable. An ordinary halter neck bikini top or covered bra is normally used. Some dancers also wear a tight fitting pareo beneath the skirts which provides more cover and this too is authentic. Sometimes a pareo is worn with just a hip belt over the top of it.

Hand Tassels (I’i) pronounced ee’ee
Made from the same material as the belt tassels, these implements are shaken and used to great effect in conjunction with the hip movements.

Lei (Lay)
Flowered necklace. Offered to guests as tokens of love and friendship. Traditionally made from scented flowers and leaves, but more often worn by dancers using silk flowers.

Pareo (Pah ree oh)
The pareo is the Tahitian word for wraparound skirt. Originally it was used only to refer to women's skirts, as men wore a loincloth, called a maro. Nowadays the term is applied to any piece of cloth worn wrapped around the body, worn by males or females. It is related to the Malay sarong. Hula dancers do not traditionally wear a Mo’re skirt. They favour the pareo.

Tattoo
The word tattoo originated in Tahiti. The legend of Tohu, the god of tattoo, describes painting all the oceans’ fish in beautiful colours and patterns. In Polynesian culture, tattoos have long been considered signs of beauty.

A "language of flowers" exists in Polynesia, so here is how to wear a flower.

.Worn behind your right ear, it means you are single, available.
Worn behind your left ear : you are married, engaged or otherwise taken.
Worn behind both ears : you are married but still available.
Worn backward behind your ear : you are available immediatly.