Joshua Sisters

Rose Joshua (1901-1987) is a name that comes up with most anyone involved with modern hula in the 20th century, as she taught thousands of people through her Magic Hula Studio in Waikīkī and branches in countries like Japan and Mexico. We had the pleasure of sitting with her three youngest daughters, Lorraine, Blossom, and Gladys. Remarkably, it took place at the Magic Hula Studio! It was still operating in the early 21st century in Waikīkī! Over the course of several group and solo interviews, we heard from her daughters about growing up in hula with their mom, how she crafted beautiful costumes, the kinds of hula shows that were prevalent in those years, and what life was like during a dynamic time for the islands and Hawaiian culture.