04/23/2026
Years ago, our class was given gourds to create an ipu heke. The bottom gourd I selected was already rotten, and although we received a replacement the following school year, the activity had been set aside.
At that time, I focused on my kuleana and what was being asked of me in the moment.
The gourds went into storage, where they remained for years.
When I finally opened the container again, I discovered they had been eaten from the inside out. They could no longer serve as a hula implement or be used to create music.
I considered returning them to the ʻāina, but then I wondered, how else could they continue to tell their story?
So I joined the two pieces together to form the ipu heke, creating a small scene within. It is my hope that, with a bit of imagination and a touch of magic, my keiki can feel and hear the oli and mele!
