Which Hawaiian goddess is the patron of hula?

The Hawaiian goddess traditionally identified as the patron of hula is Laka.

Laka is associated with hula, forest growth, and the creative force that inspires a dancer’s movement. In Hawaiian religious tradition, she is not merely a character in a story; she represents the spiritual presence and vitality brought into a performance. Dancers and practitioners may honor her through chants, offerings, and respect for the natural materials connected with her.

Laka’s kinolau—forms through which a deity may be encountered—include plants such as the lama tree, maile vine, and ʻaʻaliʻi. ʻŌhiʻa lehua is also closely associated with her in traditions about hula altars and adornment. These botanical connections reflect the relationship between hula, place, forest, and sacred practice.

A common complication is that Hawaiian mythology includes more than one figure named Laka. One Laka is a male deity associated with hula dancing and canoe building, while another is the goddess linked to hula and forest growth. In this question, the feminine title and hula connection identify the goddess Laka.