Registration began this week for the first International Waikiki Hula Conference, and the first participants to sign up are from Yuma, Ariz.

Spokeswoman Mona Wood yesterday said initial response was good for the conference, which organizers hope will attract 1,000 people who want to learn more about the ancient Hawaiian art.

The event, subtitled "Hula in the land of its birth," is scheduled for Nov. 15 to 17. The idea is to target a variety of students, from the brand-new beginner to the more advanced. At the conference, a who's who of hula experts will teach dance, costume, implements and lei-making, language and history, and songs and music.

The number of participants for the conference is limited to the first 1,000 people from around the world who register.

The Waikiki Improvement Association is sponsoring the event to tap a growing interest in Hawaiian culture and provide a new draw for tourists. With tourism arrivals waning in recent months, officials are looking for ways to keep visitors interested.

"It's crucial that the students who attend the conference fully understand not only the dance steps, but, and even more importantly, they must understand our culture and history and the need to embrace and respect our traditions," Woods said.

She said those are crucial elements to learning and appreciating the hula. "Without that deeper meaning, it's just a dance!" Woods added.

As an added incentive, those who attend will have the opportunity to perform what they have learned at either a hotel or shopping center stage in Waikiki. Locations of the performances include the Sheraton, Marriott, Outrigger, Hyatt, Resort Quest and Hilton hotels. Shopping centers include the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, Waikiki Shopping Plaza and the International Marketplace.

Association president Rick Egged said the workshop will feature many of the most respected kumu and cultural practitioners in Hawai'i, including Snowbird Bento, Cy Bridges, Maelia Loebenstein Carter, Kapi'olani Hao, Leimomi Ho, Kealoha Kalama and Kaleo Trinidad.

The workshops will take place at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

Registration forms can be downloaded at www.waikikihulaconference.com. They will need to be faxed or mailed to the International Waikiki Hula Conference office in Honolulu, along with payment for the conference.

The Web site is available in English and Japanese. The forms can be faxed with credit card information, or payment will need to be sent by mail to complete the registration if paying by other means. Checks, money orders or cashier checks in U.S. dollars and most major credit cards will be accepted for registration payment.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.