After much public pressure, the sexual information app Hula will change its name after controversy about cultural misappropriation of Native Hawaiian culture. 

Associated Press reporter Jennifer Kelleher wrote this: 

Ramin Bastani, founder and CEO of Los Angeles-based Qpid.me Inc., said that after weeks of learning to understand concerns of the Native Hawaiian community, he’s moving forward with the app’s name change.

“We immediately engaged the community and listened with an open mind,” he said. “By doing so, we gained a great respect for hula, the Hawaiian culture and its history.”

An online petition asking him to change the name argued that it exploits a sacred cultural dance. Bastani previously said the name would remain, even after the petition gained some attention in March. But he said he immediately removed any references to “getting lei’d” in marketing the app.

“As we continued to listen and learn, we realized this is the right thing for us to do,” he said. Recently, the controversy seemed to die down, he said, but that “quiet period” allowed the company to “truly reflect.”

This comes after the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and state senators joined forces to urge the developer to change the app’s name. 

Civil Beat also published an open letter from local resident and software company founder Hoala Greevy, which asked for a name change in exchange for tickets to the annual and celebrated Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo. 

The app’s new name has not yet been decided. 

Photo: Hula’s front page

— Gene Park