The ipu and ukulele are familiar Hawaiian music instruments, but few remember that Hawai’i had a string instrument in ancient times before the ‘ukulele. The ‘ukeke, is the subject of an upcoming talk at Bishop Museum, and HPR’sNoeTanigawa offers this chance to hear the instrument.
Learn more about “ ‘Ukeke, the indigenous stringed instrument of Hawai’i” at the Bishop Museum this Thursday, June 26th, 6pm.
Description from the Bishop Museum:
The History behind the ‘?k?k?: The Indigenous Stringed Instrument of Hawai‘i
Bishop Museum unveils the history and culture of the ‘?k?k?, Hawai‘i’s only indigenous stringed instrument, with multi-media artisan Mahi La Pierre. Consisting of a thin, bent piece of wood and one or more strings of gut or sennit (coconut fiber), the ‘?k?k? was traditionally used to accompany mele (song) and oli (chant). Mahi will trace the history of the '?k?k?, and share historic excerpts and collection highlights from the academic works of celebrated cultural historians like noted Bishop Museum researcher Helen H. Roberts and anthropologist and former museum director, Sir Peter H. Buck. Mahi will also explore the controversy and negative views of the ‘?k?k? held by Hawai‘i’s early missionaries. Additionally, Mahi will also discuss his experiences in constructing the ‘?k?k? from traditional materials, as well as the instrument’s present-day usage in Hawaiian music. Audience members will receive a rare demonstration of a full traditional mele‘?k?k? learned from James Ka‘upena Wong Jr. and Mary KawenaPukui. Some audience members will even have the opportunity to try out the instrument firsthand.
‘?k?k?: The Indigenous Stringed Instrument of Hawai‘i
Thursday, June 26, 2014
6-7:30 p.m.
Bishop Museum, Atherton Halau
Members FREE; General Admission for Lecture $10
RSVP online at www.bishopmuseum.org or call (808) 847-8296
