Can a modern craftsman revive the silent voices of ancient Hawaiian drums?
In short: Native Hawaiian practitioner Dennis Kanaʻe Keawe travels to London to reunite his contemporary carvings with a rare 18th-century lapaiki. This video documents his process of studying ancestral instruments housed at the British Museum to ensure his own work captures the authentic look, feel, and sound of history.
Dennis Kanaʻe Keawe, a cultural practitioner based in Hilo, has spent decades researching pahu drums to create contemporary replicas of fragile ancestral pieces. His work aims to restore the 'voice' of these instruments, which are often too delicate for modern use. During his residency at the British Museum, supported by the Benioff Oceania Programme, Keawe examined a lapaiki—a small drum potentially collected during Captain James Cook’s final Pacific voyage between 1778 and 1779.
By comparing his own hand-carved drums with this historic artifact, Keawe highlights the nuances of traditional craftsmanship. The project emphasizes the cultural importance of maintaining these musical traditions, with kumu hula Laʻakea Perry providing chants to bring the newly carved instruments to life.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How to make a Hawaiian Drum | Lapaiki
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