Orange sunlight shimmers across the sea’s surface, accompanying the sun’s descent at the horizon of Hondue Beach: the birthplace of the Hekulu-Kulu dance.
That afternoon, six elementary school students from SD Negeri Kollosoha, Tomia District, Wakatobi Regency, were already prepared at the shoreline, dressed in kabaea kapipi, furai ragi-ragi cloths, and kampuru head coverings. Each child held a kulu-kulu. They were about to perform the Hekulu-Kulu dance in front of visiting tourists.
Read: Efforts to Preserve Wakatobi's Culture and History through Tourism
The coastal community of Kollo Soha village has a deep bond with the sea. For them, the sea is not just a stretch of salty water but a source of livelihood and a space for tradition. One of the remaining traces of that tradition is fishing with kulu-kulu: a traditional fish trap made of woven bamboo.
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