who invented the hula hoop

The modern hula hoop was popularized in 1958 by the Wham-O toy company, credited to Arthur "Spud" Melin and Richard Knerr who manufactured the plastic version of the hoop. However, the name "hula hoop" and the introduction of the toy to the US were attributed to Joan Anderson, an Australian woman who observed the hooping trend in Australia, named it after the Hawaiian dance due to the hip movements resembling the dance, and played a crucial but uncredited role in its rise in the US. Anderson and her husband presented the toy to Wham-O, but she never received full acknowledgment despite her contribution. The origins of hooping stretch back thousands of years with hoop-like objects used for exercise and play in various cultures.