It's been seven summers since Patrick Makuakane and his San Francisco-based Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu drew standing ovations at Grand Performances, showing not only their traditional hula chops but their handle on bringing the Hawaiian dance form into the modern era with hula mua. Loosely translated as hula that evolves, hula mua utilizes music ranging from electronic to pop to classical opera, as well as giant video screens and other 21st-century technologies, plus Makuakane's skills as a raconteur. The troupe's popularity in the Bay Area has been attracting larger attention. In June, Hawaiian Airlines marked the debut of its nonstop service to New York by sponsoring the company performing 15 minutes of hit-and-run hula at six iconic New York stops, including the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Catch a full performance of hula mua at L.A.'s own iconic Grand Performances. WaterCourt at California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., dwntn.; Fri.-Sat., Aug. 10-11, 8 p.m.; free. (213) 687-2190, grandperformances.org.

Fri., Aug. 10, 8 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 11, 8 p.m., 2012

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