What Are Hula Hoops? Hula hoops are simple hoops that are kept around the waist by swinging the hips in a hula-like motion. Although hula hoops became a cultural craze during the 1950s, the toy actually dates back much earlier. While modern versions are made of plastic tubing, originally hula hoops were formed from rattan, grapevines, or stiff grasses, among other natural materials. Using hoops as a toy dates back to ancient Greece and Egypt as well as several Native American cultures, where the hoop dance was used to tell stories. By the eighteenth century, hula hoops for sale toy had become quite common in many cultures, although it had not yet earned its name. It was not until British sailors visited the islands of Hawaii during the early nineteenth century that the hoop toy became associated with traditional hula dancing, which involves a similar movement of the hips.