My interest in Hawaiian and Polynesian culture began when I decided to learn to play the ‘ukulele about three years ago.  Although the ‘ukulele is a more versatile instrument than most people think and can play any type of music, it was the sound of Hawaiian music that really appealed to my musical tastes.  I began in earnest to learn as much about Hawaiian music as I could.

My exploration of Hawaiian music led me to, among many others, the recordings of the late Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, known as “Iz” to the worldwide music community.  As I came across more and more pictures of Iz and other Hawaiian musicians I noticed many of them wearing exquisitely carved hooks around their necks.  In some pictures, Iz was wearing two hooks – one like a choker and another like a pendant.  The more I saw these carved hooks, the more interested I got in learning about them.

I eventually learned that the hooks are called Makau in the Hawaiian language and that the carved hooks worn today are based upon the actual hooks used by the ancient Hawaiians for fishing.  Today the Makau symbolizes the strength and determination of the wearer.

The Makau used by the ancient Hawaiians were made of bone, most commonly human bone but also dog bone and fish bone.  Hooks were typically made from the human thigh bone and fishermen believed that the bone from the body of a bald fisherman brought the most luck.  As a result, family members of deceased bald men often went to great lengths to hide the body of the departed.

Today the hooks are primarily made out of beef bone.  I learned this about a year ago when I came across an Internet video on youtube of an artist in Hawaii demonstrating how to carve a Hawaiian hook from a piece of bovine bone.  The artist was Louie “The Fish” DeNolfo from Oahu, known to many as the “The grandfather of contemporary South Pacific bone carving.”  I was captivated.  I watched that video over and over again and left questions in the comment box with the hope that I could learn more about this fascinating art.  Fortunately the questions were answered by the gentleman who made the video, Ty Ledger from www.kettlebottom.com.  Ty directed me to the kettlebottom.com website to learn more about bone carving, which led to more questions and a desire on my part to give bone carving a try.

A couple of weeks later I received an e-mail, the first line of which read, “I am Louie the Fish!”  Apparently Ty had been relating my interest in bone carving to Louie the Fish who generously volunteered to help me get started via e-mail.  Over the next several months Louie kindly answered my questions as I began gathering the tools I needed to create my first Hawaiian bone hook.

The toolkit for my first carvings consisted of a bench grinder with a sanding disk and a buffing wheel instead of grinding disks, a Dremel rotary tool, a few needle files, a jeweler’s saw (or fret saw) and lots of 320 grit sandpaper.  I acquired the bone from, believe it or not, a PetSmart store where the bone was all cleaned, bleached and ready to carve.
                      
               Piece of bone                 Saw with Makau                 Makau to be sanded

My first bone carving was awful, but I was proud just to have done something.  I sent a picture of that first carving to Louie and Ty who both sent back words of encouragement.  I kept at it, going through sheets of sandpaper and acquiring different Dremel burrs to help with the carving along the way.  I seemed to learn something new about bone carving with each new carving that I tried.

Although my bone carving has gotten better over the course of the past ten months or so, it still has a long way to go before my carvings look anything like the carvings that Louie the Fish and other professionals turn out.  I’m just a hobbyist, though, and happy with what I’ve accomplished thus far.  The pictures accompanying this article illustrate the various steps involved in carving a Hawaiian hook with the end result being a Makau that is ready to wear.  I hand-braid the cords I make for my hooks and make the bone toggle that closes the cord.  The most challenging part of creating Makau for me is the lashing that attaches the hook the cord.  I use the same method that the ancient Hawaiians used as adapted by Louie the Fish for modern wearing.  It will sometimes take me three or four tries before I get a lashing that I’m fairly happy with.  Once done, though, the Makau is very durable and can withstand pretty much any type of environment including salt water, pool water, bath water, sweat, etc.

Over time a bone carving will start to take on a honey colored patina.  Polynesian cultures believe that this happens because the bone carving is acquiring the essence, or mana, of its owner.  The longer the bone carving is worn the more intense the color change and the greater its value.  In many Polynesian cultures bone carvings are passed on from generation to generation. 
                                 
                          Polished Makau                      Finished Product

I owe my growing interest in carving and my journey to become a bone carver to two men that I’ve never met – Ty Ledger from kettlebottom.com and Louie the Fish Denolfo.  If you would like to see bone carving that will take your breath away, visit www.louiethefish.com and see what an experienced carver can produce.  I am thankful that ancient arts such as bone carving not only continue to exist in our fast-paced, high-tech world of today, but they are thriving thanks to artists, collectors and cultures that honor tradition.

Mahalo Paul for sharing this story with Aloha At Heart and the world!

My Ipu-Heke and I....

An 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 Clayre 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 had volunteered to perform for that Ipu Ceremony along with Ellie McCline but did not get my ipu-heke in time.  So when Aunty Honey Stant offered to teach a class, Ellie, Dee Evans and I jumped at the chance.  We drove to the gourd farm in Casa Grande one Saturday and out of thousands of choices we picked our best two.  Aunty Honey sent us a list of stuff we needed to bring to the class and so armed we were 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 band-aids.   Aunty Honey helped me cut the top of my gourds but during the process the drill slipped and it cut her finger and through a fingernail.  She said that's the first time in over 35 ipu's that she cut that this had happened and I said it had to be mine, I felt so bad.  But being the lovely, warm-hearted soul that she is she made me feel better.

 

So after much washing and scrubbing and we cut off the top of the gourds, we removed all the seeds and fiber from the inside of the gourds, this affects the sound of the ipu-heke.   Then we had to sand not only the outside but also the inside of the gourd, so you sand and sand and sand  and dust is flying all over you that you begin to look like an "obake" (ghost).  Then we start the process of joining the two gourds together, it has to line up just so and then you glue the inside of the gourd and then you wait for it to dry.  After about 2 or 3 days, you are ready to varnish your ipu-heke and you put a braided rope around the seam where the two gourds are joined and also to hold the ipu-heke while you beat on it. 

 

Your finished ipu-heke at this point has developed a personality and you can give it a name, my ipu-heke looks like it has soulful eyes and I am still searching for a meaningful name.

 

Sincerely,

Linda Hess,

Beginner Ipu-Heke maker

"May You Live Your Life Mana-Filled and Brilliantly Shining With The Light Of The
Aloha Spirit!"