This was the second of two films on which both star Clara Bow and director Victor Fleming worked together. They had previously worked on Mantrap (1926), during which they began a relationship that lasted for several months.
Hula was one of Clara Bow's last silent movies before she moved into Talkies.
The film entered into the public domain on January 1, 2023.
Similar to Sadie Thompson (1928), the film depicts a modern woman who is located outside the bounds of American civilization and thus able to act in an "uncivilized" manner like natives who live on the islands.
Clara Bow's nude swimming scene was hugely controversial, with many other actresses refused to include her in their social circles.