XVII.— THE HULA KA EKE-EKE 



The haeli'eehe was a formal hula worthy of high consideration. 

 Some authorities assert that the performers in this dance were chosen 

 from the hoopaa alone, who, it will be remembered, maintained the 

 kneeling position, while, according to another authority, the olapa 

 also took part in it. There is no reason for doubting the sincerity of 

 both these witnesses. The disagreement probably arose from hasty 

 generalization. One is reminded of the wise Hawaiian saw, already 

 noted, •• Do not think that your halau holds all the knowledge." 



This hula took its name from the simple instrument that formed 

 its musical accompaniment. This consisted of a single division of 

 the long- jointed bamboo indigenous to Hawaii, which was left open 

 at one end. (The varieties of bamboo imported from China or tlie 

 East Indies have shorter joints and thicker walls, and will not an- 

 swer the purpose, being not sufficiently resonant.) The joints used in 

 the kaekeeke were of different sizes and lengths, thus producing tones 

 of various pitch. The performer held one in each hand and the tone 

 was elicited by striking the base of the cylinder sharply against the 

 floor or some firm, nonresonant body. 



On making actual trial of the kaekeeke, in order to prove by expe- 

 rience its musical quality and capabilities, the writer's pleasure was 

 as great as his surprise when he found it capable of producing mu- 

 sical tones of great purity and of the finest quality. Experiment soon 

 satisfied him that for the best production of the tone it was neces- 

 sary to strike the bamboo cylinder smartly upon some firm, inelastic 

 substance, such as a bag of sand. The tone produced was of crys- 

 talline purity, and by varying the size and length of the cylinders it 

 proved possible to represent a complete musical scale. The instru- 

 ment was the germ of the modern organ. 



The first mele to be presented partakes of the nature of the alle- 

 gory, a form of composition not a little affected by the Hawaiians: 



A Hamakua an, 

 Noho i ka uUi ha la. 

 Malibiui an i ka hiki ana. 

 I ka iia pe'epe'e pobaku. 

 5 Noho oe a li'u-li'u, 

 A hili-luli malie iho. 

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