Ipu Heke is an ancient traditional hula implement. It’s is made using two gourds. The top gourd is known as the heke and the bottom is olo.
The significance of the IPU heke is that it is a manifestation of the Hawaiian god Lono. Lono is god of peace. During Lonos season which is from October to February there would be no war. Families and communities would enjoy Makahiki, a time for participating and playing games, sport and entertainment-hula.
I teach IPU Heke making to students that demonstrate an inner purity towards learning hula. Crafting an ipu Heke requires very little skill. With a little practice anyone can succeed at crafting these. However, what is important is the heart and spirit of the crafter.
Can one’s heart be reverent and honor the materials representative of a spiritual entity? What is ones purpose to learn this craft? Is it only for accomplishment or is it for genuine purpose to perpetuate mana (power) Ao (light) aloha (love) in hula? These questions aren’t for me to judge but they are legitimate questions for our time because all of seek knowledge, seek accomplishments.
My questions is for us to expand our awareness for something very pure to IMUA hula, have hula move forward. To not use a gift (knowledge) always for personal gain – financial, personal.
These ideas are hard things to be heard and one would think this is common thing that all people know. But I don’t think so and it’s my reason for saying it here.
My responsibility as a Kumu is not only Kumu (teacher or source) for hula but teacher and source for knowledge and understanding for many things.
Kumu hula and haumana(students of hula). We have spent many years studying this culture. Our teachers have taught us what they can so we can know what is right and what is wrong as it relates to hula, Hawaiian culture values and beliefs. To do anything without regards for our teachers without care or thoughtfulness for others is not right.
IPU Heke making or other crafts surely honor my teachers works. Those Kumu hula that have taught me as well as Na Kumu O Ka Hana No’eau (craft) teachers. We honor them by teaching as they have taught us. To craft with great deal of patience, to honor god, to listen with a kind heart to instructions, to follow through and not quit, to practice and improve ones skill, to be appreciative. To think about using our learned skill for profit was definitely unthinkable. Only the above was our main focus. as students remuneration was paid to our teachers. but sometimes it wasn’t money but it was with giving of our time to help them with other task. It could also mean giving gifts of food.
These stories maybe can only be told by the student (me) that have had a journey like the one I am talking about. It’s a story not to look down anyone but it’s a story to awaken the students that are wanting to know how things are done appropriately.
Everyone wants mana (power, light, personal skill, blessings) but mana is not achieved by simple expectations and want. It is a relationship of giving, being humble and appreciative as well as having a relationship to higher power (spiritual connection). It is from a feeling of good will towards others and hang kindness to help make our communities better.
So the physical making of an Ipu Heke is really insignificant. Basically glue to gourd together. The more significance part is realization that god is present in these gourds. That my teaching doesn’t come from me it comes from the flow of knowledge through generations of crafters and teachers. I am a link now but you are the link for the future. You have responsibility from now. How will your link be? Will it be one that understands the above message? Or does the link be a stopping point in our long chain?
ChanomiTalk 