Hula Instruments

Hawaiian Musical Instruments
http://hawaiianlanguage.com/o-h-instruments.html

Ka Pahu

Sources: Pukui, Mary Kawena & Elbert, Samuel H., HAWAIIAN DICTIONARY,
University of Hawai`i Press, Honolulu, 1986.
Mitchell, Donald D. Kilolani Mitchell, Resource Units in Hawaiian Culture,
Revised Edition, The Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu, 1982, 1992.
Pronunciation Guide

Click here for Hula Implements
kâ`eke `eke [KAH' eh keh eh keh]	bamboo pipes or tubes of varying length. These are held vertically and stamped or tapped on a mat or on the ground. Several musicians may play together. kâ = to strike `eke = container
kuolokani [koo' (w)oh loh kah' nee]	large drum; ancient musical instrument; a timbrel.
nî `au kani [NEE' au kah nee]	a true jew’s harp, made of a thin strip of wood, with a nîau (coconut midrib ) or bamboo strip lashed lengthwise. nî`au = coconut leaflet mid-rib kani = sound
`ohe hano ihu [oh' heh hah' noh ee' hoo]	nose flute made out of bamboo. In earlier days, they were used to accompany chants, but most often to carry sentiments between lovers. `ohe = bamboo hano = humming sound ihu = nose
>> Kamehameha Family Pahu, Bishop Museum >> Hula Pahu: Hawaiian Drum Dances, Bishop Museum
pahu [pah' hoo] Courtesy of Patty	a large drum, brought from Kahiki (Tahiti) five to six centuries ago. the most important musical instrument of the traditional hula the best are made from a hollowed breadfruit or coconut tree, a drumhead made of sharkskin, preferably the right flank introduced to Hawai`i, seven centuries ago, by La`amai Kahiki, a seafaring chief from Tahiti; legend says when the first drumbeats were sounded by La`amai far out at sea, the kanaka maoli paused, listening in wonderment. ka`eleloi, rolling sound of the hula drum nipolo, striking the drum while chanting
pahu pa`i [pah' hoo pah' ee]	small sharkskin drum, beaten for the hula. pahu = drum pa`i = to slap
papa hehi [pah' pah heh' hee]	footboard, used for dancing; treadle papa = board hehi = to tread, to stamp
pû [POO] Courtesy of Huapala	large triton conch or helmet shell This is used more as a ceremonial trumpet than as a musical instrument, capable of emitting a sound of great volume, the secret of the production lying not in the breath, but in the manner of blowing. Sound has been known to travel two miles. In old Hawai`i, it was used to announce the arrival of personages or to summon people to events. Today, it is used to announce the opening of pageants, ceremonies, and performances. pû = to blow or sound
pûniu [POO' niu] Courtesy of Huapala	small knee drum made of coconut shell with a tympanum of ala (fish skin). pû = container niu = coconut
`ûkêkê [OO' KEH' KEH']	a variety of musical bow, with two or commonly three strings drawn through holes at one end. The strings are strummed. The old experts made no sound with the vocal chords, but the mouth cavity acted as a resonance chamber. The resulting sound suggested speech and trained persons could understand it. It was sometimes used for love-making.

May Your Hula Brilliantly Shine with the Light of The Aloha Spirit!