Making your own hula skirt is easy to do and can be done with household items.
In the 1830s, missionaries to Hawaii were appalled to see men and women dancing in grass skirts, known colloquially as hula skirts. The skirts, which were made of grass and flowers, are worn during traditional Hawaiian dances. Making these skirts out of materials like paper, felt and crepe paper is easy and makes a fun craft project.
Paper Bag Hula Skirt
Making a hula skirt out of a grocery-size paper bag is a great way to re-purpose bags while giving kids a craft activity that will entertain them. To make a skirt, start by dismantling the paper bag so it's one large, flat sheet. Lay a long piece of yarn across the bottom of the bag; the yarn should be long enough to tie the two ends together around your waist. Cut the other side of the bag into strips that reach most of the way up the bag. Glue flowers and decorations to this.
Crepe Paper Hula Skirt
You can make a hula skirt out of crepe paper. Create a band of crepe paper (streamers) that reaches around your or your child's waist; this will be the part that holds the skirt up. Using more crepe paper and tape, attach strips to the waistband that flow downward. Attach as many as you want, using as many colors as you want. You can cut designs into the bottom of the paper for an added twist.
Miniature Hula Skirt
You or your child can make a hula skirt perfect for a Barbie doll or other toy. Cut a piece of paper in a rectangular shape: it should be long enough to wrap around the toy and wide enough to reach to the toy's feet. You can use colored paper, or color the paper once you've cut it. Along one of the long edges, cut a series of slits that go about 3/4 of the way to the opposite side. Then wrap this skirt around your toy -- frayed ends down -- and tape or otherwise affix the waistband to itself so it will stay up.
Decorating a Hula Skirt
Once you've purchased a hula skirt or made your own out of various materials, you can decorate it to make it more fun. You can purchase a plastic lei (flower necklace) and dismantle it. Using glue or tape, affix the flowers from the lei to the hula skirt. Use gems or sequins to cover up the hole in the middle of the flower. You can also cut flowers or butterflies out of colored paper and attach them to the hula skirt.
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