The Instruments of Hula


The Instruments of Hula 

The most familiar and well known instruments from Hawaii are the Ukulele and the Steel Guitar. During my visit, I encountered many different traditional instruments that hold cultural importance and are uses in Hula dance. The first and most significant is the Pahu Drum. 
Standing drum with zig-zag lashing. Drum skin made from shark skin fastened with plaited cord of coconut fibres stretched from the cover to the ring-like pedestal.

I first came across the Pahu Drum during a traditional Hula performance. Hula has two parts, the Hula being the dance and the Mele being the chants. The Pahu Drum accompanies the Mele and is a crucial part. The drum offers a beat to go hand-in-hand with the chants to create a rhythmic chant to go with the dancing. 



                                     

The Pahu Drum is made of coconut tree log with a sharkskin drum head. The larger drums are played with sticks and the smaller drums  are played with one's hands. Pahu drum produce very deep sounding tones and are often used for religious purposes as well as for Hula. 

kalaau
stonesIt is not rare to see Hula dancers often hold small "instruments" to produce more sound while preforming. This is what I found while watching a Hula performance my third time visiting the island of Oahu. These instruments include the "`Ili`Ili", small stones struck together and the "Kala'Au", hardwood sticks that produces sound when struck together. 

  

 

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Works Cited

Works Cited  “Drum Pahu.”  Chinese Workers | National Museum of Australia , National Museum of Australia; c=AU;       o=Commonwealth of Australia; Ou=National Museum of Australia, www.nma.gov.au/online_features/cook_forster/objects/drum_pahu_oz410. “Hula Accompanying Instruments from Hawaii.”  Omeka RSS , Grinnell College Musical Instrument Collection , omeka1.grinnell.edu/MusicalInstruments/exhibits/show/ens/hula. “To Search for the Truth of the Hawaiian Culture.”  Ka`Imi Na`Auao O Hawai`i Nei Institute , www.kaimi.org/. Lindgren, Ryan. “Cheyney and Ryan's Blog.”  Ukulele Player , 1 Jan. 1970, cheyneyandryan.blogspot.com/2010/02/ukulele-player.html. “Oli: Hawaiian Chants for Wisdom, Well-Being and Preservation.”  Ho'omana Spa Maui , 19 Feb. 2016, www.hoomanaspamaui.com/oli-hawaiian-chants/. “Hula and Mele Resources: Mele.”  Research Guides , guides.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/c.php?g=574601&p=3968174. ...
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