Ukeke

The ʻūkēkē is a musical bow made of koa wood, 16 to 24 inches long and about 1½ inches wide with two or three strings fastened through and around either end, tuned to an A major triad. Prior to the introduction of steel strings, gut or sennit (coconut fibre) were used.

Illustration of an ʻūkēkē
For the 19th-century Hawaiian politician, see George Belly Ukeke.

The strings were strummed with one hand while the other hand kept the ʻūkēkē in position. The mouth would then act as a resonating chamber.

The old experts made no sound with the vocal cords, but the mouth acted as a resonance chamber. The resulting sound suggested speech and trained persons could understand. It was sometimes used for love making.

The ʻūkēkē is the only stringed instrument indigenous to Hawaii, with other Hawaiian string instruments like the ukulele and slack-key guitar having been introduced by European sailors and settlers.

Modern usage

The 19th-century Hawaiian kumu hula ʻIoane ʻŪkēkē played the ʻūkēkē. Hawaiian artists such as Palani Vaughan and Ranga Pae have incorporated the ʻūkēkē into their compositions.

Bibliography
  • Roberts, Helen H. 1967. Ancient Hawaiian Music. New York: Dover Publications
  • Mary Kawena Pukui 1986 Hawaiian Dictionary. University of Hawaii Press
  • - A sound clip of the ʻūkēkē performed by Ranga Pae


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