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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
 Posted - 03/28/2008 : 3:57:23 PM
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Aloha nui,
Does anyone think I'd be able to find either of the above somewhere close to where I live?
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He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2008 : 4:16:46 PM
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I found a large gourd, that sounds pretty good as an ipu, at an art fair for 5 bucks. Gourds are all over. If you want a true ipu heke, check out www.thegourdconnection.com
For most of us, ukuleles are everywhere, except at a store near your house. Ebay, internet dealers and stores in major cities are where you find ukulele.
Jesse |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2008 : 4:41:11 PM
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You are supposed to grow your gourds and find ones that fit your hands and your kumu's style of hula. You search for the right gourd, nuture it, dry it, sand it and polish it. For ipu heke, you have got to find the right ones to go together. The gourds would grow well in Main. Plant them after all frost is past. Do not plant them near any other vining type plants such as cucumbers or squashes, because they will cross pollinate and you will get really weird stuff. Or your cukes will taste icky like gourds (yuck.) May 10th is traditional W. Va. time for planting vining plants. "Vine Day".
If you want to buy.... several places on the internet you can get as long as you have the kala:
here's one: http://www.thegourdconnection.com/ipuheke.html
This is how to make one: http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/tollington/72/heke.htm
For `ukulele, I can heartily recommend Music Guy Mike. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
Edited by - wcerto on 03/28/2008 4:42:02 PM |
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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2008 : 02:53:47 AM
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Aloha mai!
Later this afternoon, my 'ohana and I will be going over to a music store in Dover, NH for a second "checking out 'ukulele" mission. The last time I went there, the guy working there had tried to tune all the ones they had there the best he could, but I still didn't like it because none of them sounded like they were tuned a, e, c, g from high to low. I'll have to see what happens this time.
I also recently found out that http://www.iamhawaii.com offers online video 'ukulele lessons. I checked out the first one and Brailled myself a reference sheet of the finger positions for the C progression (C, F, and G7). I'm hoping that some of the ones I check out today will be good enough that I can practice those a little.
Wish me pomaika'i!
Oh yeah, and I'll ask my kumu for more info on how she got/made her ipu heke. |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2008 : 11:41:07 AM
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| Just got back from the store a little while ago. I might get a lanikai one. No Kamaka there. |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
Edited by - alika207 on 03/29/2008 11:43:28 AM |
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kawikasurf
Aloha
USA
28 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2008 : 11:21:50 AM
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Aloha e Alika,
Lanikai makes fine ukes. I've seen both Palika Enos and Bill Tapia play them at professional gigs. Pat recommends them to his students of all levels.
Cheers and happy strumming to you,
David |
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ypochris
Lokahi
USA
398 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2008 : 12:03:57 PM
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Due to cross pollination, true "Hawaiian" ipu are extinct- although there may be some Hawaiian genes in ipu grown in Hawai'i. Any large gourd will do just fine, but to do it right you have to grow them. The key is to shape the expanding gourd with strips of cloth, and work with a number of them so you get the exactly right one.
Beware, though- we planted gourds by my father's place in Puna and the plant swallowed up half an acre amazingly quickly. If you grow them on a trellis you will get more uniform shapes, but might have to provide support for large specimens.
Be sure to dry them quickly- the seeds and pulp will cause them to rot or at least discolor from the inside in humid locations.
Have fun- we did!
Chris
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NANI
Lokahi
USA
292 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2008 : 2:55:43 PM
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| Chris I would love to know more about the growing as I too am attempting it for the first time this year. I have already started the seeds and have the ground ready. What are the cloth strips for ?? and do you have any reccomendations as to how to dry them quickly. I have much to learn. |
"A hui hou kakou, malama pono".
Nancy |
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ypochris
Lokahi
USA
398 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2008 : 3:46:57 PM
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The cloth (kapa traditionally, of course!) is used to shape the gourd. A band in the middle gives an hourglass shape, a band on the top makes for a nicer handle. I have seen "double hourglass" gourds made with two bands. A broad band around the top half of an hourglass will make that half smaller than the bottom. Don't leave gaps in your wrappings or things will get really strange!
Growing ipu is easy- just plant a few seeds in a mound and watch. They like something to climb on, bushes or a trellis. Not sure but I think you need more than one plant for cross pollination. What you don't want is any other cucurbits around- squash, cucumbers, etc. They will cross pollinate your gourds and the next generation will be something strange. A couple plants in a single mound will give you more ipu than you and your friends will be able to figure out how to use. Thinning them might make for bigger ipu.
After trying to dry ipu outside under a roof in Puna, we resorted to putting them in a room with a dehumidifier. I suspect in a dryer climate they would dry naturally- Hawaiians didn't have dehumidifiers! Perhaps ipu were more of a Kona crop- at least the large ones we were growing.
If you want a really big ipu you could try this- I haven't used it on ipu but it works with pumpkins. Once the fruit is developing nicely, cut a little slit in the stem and insert a wick- like from a kerosene lamp. Put the other end of the wick into a bowl of milk- keep the bowl full of milk. This grows prize winning pumpkins- might work for a monster ipu...
Chris
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2008 : 8:17:51 PM
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I don't think you can grow a large dry gourd in a place that gets a snowy winter because a gourd needs a long and very hot summer and a fairly dry fall in order to dry out. You can grow edible gourds and pumpkins in the northern tier of US states, but they won't dry to a woody texture.
Jesse |
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Karl Monetti
`Olu`olu
USA
756 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2008 : 9:01:17 PM
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| our own slkho makes some incredible ipus, or at least he did |
Karl
Frozen North |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 12:27:33 AM
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Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. You can grown them successfully and dry them without problems. We have done so iin this neck of the woods. In W. Va., we used to grown them plenty for ladles and drinking dippers, etc. All you have to do is what Nani is doing - start them indoors. Plant them on May 10 in the outside. Best way is to lay down landscape fabric, black plastic or several sheets of newspaper, make cross wise sliits in the paper and plant the plants in the slit. The fabric or plastic will keep the soil warm and control weeds until they get well established. If you leet them crawl on the ground, they might take over your yard. Soomething to climb on is great, because you won't get a flat side of the gourd as it lays against the ground. Can harvet before it frosts, if they are big enough to suit you. Hand them to dry. Need plenty of air circulation so they do not get moldy. However, if they do get moldy, they can continue to dry if you increase circulation -- maybe a fan for part of the day or maybe a small electric heater. For nstance, hang them down in the basement or on a back porch, if weather is still good, where it is sunny. To clean mold off, make solution of water and bleach and wipe with a cloth. After they have dried to your satisfaction, you will need to very lightly sand with te finest grit sandpaper to get discoloration off. They will be mottled looking. Nothing you can do about it. Then, after that, decide on your finish. Some folks like matte finish - just use some kind oil or paste wax. If you like shiny, you will need some type varnish finish or polyurethane, but it dulls the sound somewhat.
Paul's gourd came in the mail yesterday. It is a bit too big for an `ipu. Cannot fit my hands around the neck. Paul is making a banjo out of this one.
Remember when using an `ipu -- make sure you hold it so that the mana cannot leak out of the mouth. Hold it no more than 45 deg. angle or so. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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NANI
Lokahi
USA
292 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 04:31:45 AM
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OK still not clear on how the cloth is going to work but will give a try . Have a great basement for drying. we live on a sand Dune and have one of the few basements in Delaware. And in that basement we have an OLD Oil burner heating system you want to talk about a warm dry climate. so now I just wait for the Babies to sprout and grow till the soil is warm enough for them. There are so many opinions on the web as to HOW to grow gourds. Some say MUST grow on trellis others say never on trellis as if they lay against trellis it will deform gourd or stem will not be strong enough and gourd will break off as it gets big enough . Me I think I will try both. Got PLENTY land now if I just get plenty baby gourd plants. I made one Ipu while in Hawai'i this year and my Auntie used water and steel wool to clean them that and lots of MY elbow grease. She said they used to go down to beach and wash them in the ocean using the sand to scrub and sometimes she still does that with the little Keiki making there first one so they learn right but she is so tired of to much trash and Ipu getting scratched so now she just washes at home with steel wool. Maybe if the water and the weather are warm enough when it is time to clean mine I will take them to our beach and try it. Otherwise it is the steel wool bath for them. She uses only Kukui Nut Oil for the finish. That and again lots of my elbow grease. Then she sent me home to grow my own and start again. I love the marks that you find on the gourd as you clean them I feel it gives each one it's own beauty.
 We thought mine looked like it had a Honu on the side of it.
So many things to experiment with and so little time. I am also supposed to be playing my ukulele, and then there is that four letter word WORK that must be done to keep paying for the trips to Hawai'i. Ah well best get back to it.
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"A hui hou kakou, malama pono".
Nancy |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 07:41:25 AM
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| Nancy - see at the top of the ipu. where it is indented like a vase? That is because the growth was restricted by tying a strip of cloth around the neck of the gourd. This then forces the gourd to grow around the restriction. Vining plants like melons, cukes, gourds cane be shaped in any way by restricting them. If you put one that is a baby inside a clear box, it will grow to match the shape of the box. I have seen square watermelons even. Also, remember to plant them in a hill or mound of nice loose, loamy soil (they prefer slightly acidic, so work in leaf mold, composted cow manure or some other such composted organic kiinda stuff. Then put three plants kinda like in a triangle . You do need to have several close together like that to get the right pollination. Then, when you plant, always plant above the ground crops when the moon is growing. Plant below the ground crops when the moon is waning. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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ArtSap
Lokahi
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 11:12:29 AM
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Remember, there are 2 types ipu; ipu heke and ipu heke `ole. Ipu heke is a double gourd that is made by taking two gourds of different sizes, cutting them off at the necks and joining them, with the smaller one on top. A hole is carved in the top gourd to allow the sound to escape. The ipu heke `ole is a single gourd cut off at the neck. A handle can be attached to make it easier for the dancer or ho`opa`a to hold and play.
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Art
SF Bay Area, CA / Mililani, HI
"The real music comes from within you - not from the instrument" |
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JimC
Lokahi
USA
135 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 2:57:50 PM
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My wife Linda and I just finished selecting gourds for ipu yesterday
My father-inlaw has been making ipu and ipu heke since he started dancing back in the late 40's and is now passing the tourch to us, now to be known as "Ohana Hula and Supply". Some of these will be ready for the Lei Day celebration in Las Vegas, so if you are there stop by and say hello... and there will be some slack key happening in our booth
now the hard work starts !! |
Jim
http://www.ohanahulasupply.com
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Edited by - JimC on 04/02/2008 4:37:00 PM |
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