Sacred Implements of Hula
Each instrument carries its own voice, history, and spiritual meaning
Written by a Hawaiian Culture Expert
Kalani MillerExtensions of the Dancer and Chant
The instruments used in hula aren't mere props. They're extensions of the dancer and chant, each with its own voice, history, and meaning. These sacred implements connect performers to the divine, to the land, and to generations of practitioners who have used them before.
Each implement is crafted with intention and blessed with purpose. They are not manufactured objects but sacred tools that carry the mana (spiritual power) of their makers and users.
Pahu: The Sacred Drum
The pahu drum, made from coconut or breadfruit wood with sharkskin head, provides the foundational rhythm with its deep, commanding beat. It's considered the most sacred instrument, the voice of the hālau that summons mana and connects ceremony to the divine.
Pahu Characteristics
- • Material: Coconut or breadfruit wood
- • Head: Sharkskin (traditional)
- • Sound: Deep, commanding rhythm
- • Role: Foundation of all hula music
- • Sacred Status: Most revered instrument
- • Spiritual Function: Summons mana
- • Ceremonial Use: Divine connection
- • Position: Center of musical arrangement
Ipu Heke: The Earth's Heartbeat
The ipu heke joins two gourds of different sizes to create resonant, hollow percussion. Dancers strike it on the ground and tap with their hands, providing beat and tempo for oli and kahiko hula. The gourd represents earth's heartbeat and life's procreative force.
Ipu Heke Construction & Use
- • Two gourds of different sizes
- • Larger gourd forms the base
- • Smaller gourd creates higher tones
- • Struck on ground for bass tones
- • Hand taps create rhythm patterns
- • Provides tempo for oli chanting
- • Essential for kahiko hula
- • Symbol of earth's life force
ʻUliʻulī: Joy and Celebration
ʻUliʻulī rattles use small gourds or coconut shells filled with seeds, fitted with rattan handles and capped with bright feathers. Their rattling sound symbolizes joy and celebration, adding visual and auditory energy to performances.
ʻUliʻulī Features
- • Small gourds or coconut shells
- • Filled with seeds for rattling
- • Rattan handles for grip
- • Bright feather caps for beauty
- • Symbolizes joy and celebration
- • Adds visual movement to dance
- • Creates rhythmic sound patterns
- • Often used in pairs
Pūʻili: The Voice of Nature
Pūʻili are bamboo nodes split into fine strips with solid bases serving as handles. Dancers use them in pairs, striking them together or against their bodies to create complex rhythms representing natural sounds like rustling leaves or wind.
Pūʻili Construction & Sound
- • Bamboo nodes split into strips
- • Solid base serves as handle
- • Used in pairs by dancers
- • Struck together or against body
- • Creates complex rhythm patterns
- • Mimics natural sounds
- • Represents rustling leaves
- • Evokes wind through trees
🎵 Instrument Types
- Pahu: Sacred drum
- Ipu Heke: Double gourd
- ʻUliʻulī: Feather rattles
- Pūʻili: Bamboo splits
- ʻIliʻili: Lava stones
🌿 Sacred Materials
Coconut, breadfruit, koa
Ipu, water gourds
Lava rock, beach stones
Sharkskin, feathers, seeds
🙏 Spiritual Meanings
ʻIliʻili: Pele's Sacred Stones
ʻIliʻili are four smooth, water-worn lava stones, two held in each hand. They create clicking sounds like castanets, providing sharp, staccato rhythm while directly connecting dancers to our volcanic land. Since Pele creates these stones, they often appear in dances honoring her.
Physical Properties
- • Four smooth lava stones
- • Two held in each hand
- • Water-worn for smoothness
- • Carefully matched for sound
- • Creates clicking rhythms
Spiritual Connection
- • Direct connection to Pele
- • Represents volcanic creation
- • Links dancers to land
- • Used in Pele honor dances
- • Embodies earth's power
The Art of Instrument Making
Creating hula instruments is itself a sacred practice. Students learning to make their own implements develop deep appreciation for the materials, the process, and the spiritual significance of each tool. This hands-on creation ensures that every instrument carries the maker's mana and intention.
Traditional Crafting Process
Material Selection
Choosing woods, gourds, stones, and other materials with spiritual intention
Preparation
Cleaning, carving, and shaping with traditional tools and methods
Blessing
Consecrating completed instruments with prayer and ceremony
Maintenance
Ongoing care and respect for the sacred implements
Care and Respect for Sacred Implements
Hula instruments require careful maintenance and respectful treatment. They are stored in special places, often near the kuahu altar, and handled with reverence. Students learn that these tools are partners in their spiritual practice, not mere objects to be used and discarded.
Respectful Treatment
Proper Storage
- • Keep in clean, dry places
- • Store near kuahu altar when possible
- • Protect from damage and disrespect
- • Never use for non-hula purposes
Handling Protocols
- • Handle with clean hands
- • Bow before using
- • Never let instruments touch the ground
- • Ask permission before touching others' implements
The Living Tradition
Each hula implement connects the dancer to centuries of tradition while remaining vibrantly alive in contemporary practice. Modern practitioners continue to craft these sacred tools using traditional methods, ensuring that the knowledge and spiritual connection pass to future generations. The implements themselves become repositories of mana, holding the spiritual energy of all who have used them in service of the sacred dance.