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Featured Hawaiian at Heart story

My Ipu-Heke and I

** A ipu-heke is made from joining two gourds to create a musical instrument **
I became interested in taking a class on how to make your own 'Ipu - Heke' when Aunty Claire Jones
and a large group of members performed the Ipu Heke ceremony for the opening celebration of the
2008 Phoenix, AZ Aloha Festival. I had chicken-skin on top of chicken-skin. They were just awesome!
I volunteered to perform for that Ipu Ceremony along with Ellie McCline, but did not get my ipu heke
completed in time. So when Aunty Honey Stant offered to teach a class, I jumped at the chance.
We drove to a gourd farm one Saturday and out of thousands of choices, we picked our best two. Aunty Honey sent us a list of items we needed to bring to the class. We were armed and ready or so we thought. Now making your own Ipu-Heke is not an easy undertaking. Even with all our "tools," you need to
have the desire and fortitude to finish and have plenty of band-aids on hand. Aunty Honey helped
me cut the top of my gourds, but during the process the drill slipped and cut her finger through to
the fingernail. She said that was the first time in over 35 Ipus that this had happened. I said "it had
to be mine." I felt so bad. Being the lovely, warm-hearted soul that she is, she made me feel better.
After much washing and scrubbing, we cut off the top of the gourds and removed all the seeds and
fiber from from inside. This affects the sound of the Ipu-Heke. Then we had to sand not only the
outside, but also the inside of the gourds. You sand and sand and sand. The dust flies all over you
where you begin to look like a "Obake" (ghost).
Then the process of joining the two gourds together is next. You have to line them up just so and
then glue the inside of the gourd and wait for it to dry. After 2-3 days, you are ready to varnish the
outside and put a braided rope around the seam where the two gourds are joined. It helps you hold
onto the Ipu-Heke while you beat on it when chanting. Now the Ipu Heke is completed.
At this point, it has developed a personality and you give it a name. Mine has soulful eyes, so it took
me time to search for a meaningful name for it. Then one day my sister and I came up with the
perfect name, 'Uhane Maka' which means "Soulful Eyes."
Aloha,
Linda Hess,
Beginner Ipu-Heke maker "May You Live Your Life Mana-Filled and Brilliantly
Shining With The Light Of The Aloha Spirit!"

Linda and her Ipu Heke named Uhane Maka

About the author
Born in Puunene, Maui

Do you go back to visit? - Yes, at least once a year.

Nationality - Filipino - which consists of Malasian, Chinese, Spanish

How long have you lived in AZ? - Off and on since 1961.

What made you move here? - Military relocation

What is your occupation? - Receptionist with a CPA firm.

Do you still have a deep inner feeling for Hawaii? - Always

How long did it take you to make it? - Over 3 hours.

Have you ever taken a hula class? Yes, I have taken a hula class, I am still learning.

What made you join Lau Kanaka and how long have you been a member?

I was homesick for the islands and it's culture and customs and people talking pidgen English and ono island grinds. I am going on my 5th year.

What languages do you speak or know? English, pidgen English, a few words of Filipino, Hawaiian and Japanese, mind you now, very few.

If you have any other thoughts you would like to share please feel free to add?
I just want to say I feel so blessed first of all to have had the parents that I had and for my sisters and brothers. My parents migrated from the Philippines in the 40's to Hawaii and settled on the island of Maui. My father delivered all five of us at home I am the youngest of five and because jobs were scarce on Maui they moved the family to Oahu for more opportunities.

I have also been blessed with my five children and grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. I would like thank "Lau Kanaka No Hawaii" ohana and the Hawaiian community here in Arizona, I don't feel as homesick now.

Note: "Lau Kanaka No Hawaii" is a local Hawaiian Club in the Phoenix AZ area

Tell us your story and share it with the world

Starting in June, we are going to start featuring one person a month who has roots in Hawai'i or is Hawaiian at Heart. We are going to present their story in their own words of how the Aloha Spirit is still alive and well in their lives and what they are doing to stay connected with Hawai'i.

If you belong to a Hula Halau or a local Hawaiian club, we would love to here your story. Share with the members your experiences with learning the language or any special memory that made a difference in your life and put you on the Hawaiian at Heart path.

If you are interested in being featured in our newsletter email us at AlohaAtHeart@Yahoo.com and we will send you a set of questions and give you the opportunity to share your story.