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Hakipu'u, O'ahu, Hawaii
Uncle Calvin Hoe
Tradition: Indigenous Hawaiian Instruments & Food
Hano (nose flute), ukēkē (mouth bow), and poi (food)...»
Tradition: Indigenous Hawaiian Instruments & Food
Hano (nose flute), ukēkē (mouth bow), and poi (food)...»
Hano (nose flute), ukēkē (mouth bow), and poi (food):
Hano: Made from bamboo trees in Hawaii, these flutes use the air from a musician’s nose to make sound and music.
Ukēkē: Made from a thin piece of wood that looks like bows used for hunting arrows, this instrument normally has one string that is plucked with a finger, while the bow is held on one end by the mouth to make the sound heard louder.
Poi: A traditional Hawaiian food made from the tarot plant, which grows from a long stem in tropical areas.
Hano (nose flute), ukēkē (mouth bow), and poi (food):
Hano: Made from bamboo trees in Hawaii, these flutes use the air from a musician’s nose to make sound and music.
Ukēkē: Made from a thin piece of wood that looks like bows used for hunting arrows, this instrument normally has one string that is plucked with a finger, while the bow is held on one end by the mouth to make the sound heard louder.
Poi: A traditional Hawaiian food made from the tarot plant, which grows from a long stem in tropical areas.
Artist: Uncle Calvin Hoe
Uncle Calvin Hoe grew up in O’ahu Hawaii...»
Artist: Uncle Calvin Hoe
Uncle Calvin Hoe grew up in O’ahu Hawaii...»
Uncle Calvin Hoe grew up in O’ahu Hawaii. From the time he was in high school, he started making his own instruments out of the nature where he lived. He is now considered one of Hawaii’s greatest Native crafters. His expertise is making instruments that were found in Hawaii before non-Native’s came to the islands. When outsiders began settling in Hawaii, they brought with them disease that nearly destroyed the Native population. Uncle Calvin continues the tradition of making instruments that existed in Hawaii long before European settlers arrived on the island—this work connects him to his place, people and language.
Uncle Calvin Hoe grew up in O’ahu Hawaii. From the time he was in high school, he started making his own instruments out of the nature where he lived. He is now considered one of Hawaii’s greatest Native crafters. His expertise is making instruments that were found in Hawaii before non-Native’s came to the islands. When outsiders began settling in Hawaii, they brought with them disease that nearly destroyed the Native population. Uncle Calvin continues the tradition of making instruments that existed in Hawaii long before European settlers arrived on the island—this work connects him to his place, people and language.
Place: Hakipu'u, O'ahu, Hawaii
Hawaii is a set of Islands located in the Pacific Ocean settled in the 10th century by voyagers from far away Polynesian Islands who traveled by boat using the stars to guide them...»
Place: Hakipu'u, O'ahu, Hawaii
Hawaii is a set of Islands located in the Pacific Ocean settled in the 10th century by voyagers from far away Polynesian Islands who traveled by boat using the stars to guide them...»
Hawaii is a set of Islands located in the Pacific Ocean settled in the 10th century by voyagers from far away Polynesian Islands who traveled by boat using the stars to guide them. O’ahu is one of the islands of Hawaii, known for its full vegetation and beautiful nature along the coast. The significance and beauty of this area has been passed down generations through oral tradition, often described as a paradise. Hakipu`u, or “broken hill,” refers to the jagged top of the area’s high points.
Hawaii is a set of Islands located in the Pacific Ocean settled in the 10th century by voyagers from far away Polynesian Islands who traveled by boat using the stars to guide them. O’ahu is one of the islands of Hawaii, known for its full vegetation and beautiful nature along the coast. The significance and beauty of this area has been passed down generations through oral tradition, often described as a paradise. Hakipu`u, or “broken hill,” refers to the jagged top of the area’s high points.
Questions for the Teacher
After viewing Uncle Calvin’s video, before showing it to your class...»
Questions for the Teacher
After viewing Uncle Calvin’s video, before showing it to your class...»
After viewing Uncle Calvin’s video, before showing it to your class:
- What did you find most interesting about the video, artist, tradition and place?
- What do you think the students will find most interesting?
- What concepts/skills/topics in your curriculum might this connect to or shed insight on?
- How is the life and community of this artist similar to those (or some of those) in your classroom community?
- How is the life and community of this artist distinctly different from those (or some of those) in your classroom?
After viewing Uncle Calvin’s video, before showing it to your class:
- What did you find most interesting about the video, artist, tradition and place?
- What do you think the students will find most interesting?
- What concepts/skills/topics in your curriculum might this connect to or shed insight on?
- How is the life and community of this artist similar to those (or some of those) in your classroom community?
- How is the life and community of this artist distinctly different from those (or some of those) in your classroom?
Prior to Artist Virtual Visit
Watch
Students watch accompanying video about the artist.
Discuss
In a small group of 2-4 classmates, share your answers to these questions:
- What were your first impressions and thoughts about Uncle Calvin Hoe?
- What did you like or find interesting about his music?
- What does the word “tradition” mean to you and how do traditions play a role in Uncle Calvin’s music and life?
- What kind of music reminds you of your home? Are there songs that make you think of your family, community, religion or culture?
- How does Uncle Calvin’s life intersect with nature?
Question
Think of 3 questions you want to ask Uncle Calvin Hoe.
Brainstorm & Share
Brainstorm and share out as a class:
What materials are instruments made from that you’ve seen or played? Think of each part of the instrument and what natural material it comes from.
Uncle Cal makes instruments like the ones you thought of above, but his are made from common plants found near his home. Think about the world outside your window. What could you use to make an instrument that you find outside? Come up with a list of objects and what sort of sounds you think each object would make.
Explore
Have the class go outside, (or use the classroom objects if outdoors is not possible), or have students use the outdoor space around their homes to complete this activity.
- Explore plants, trees, man-made objects in the playground, school or outside their homes, etc. to identify objects in nature with which they can make sounds. Identify at least one “found sound” instrument or object.
- Explore this “found sound” instrument—what does it sound like when you tap it on different surfaces? Can you blow into or across it? What are all the possible sounds you can make?
- Bring their “found sound” instruments or objects to the classroom to share.
- Individually or in pairs, use these “found sound” instruments—students can create a new piece of music.
- Perform or demonstrate original compositions and “sound maps” for each other in a “found sound” showcase! Share with Uncle Calvin Hoe during his class visit!
Schedule a Virtual Visit With This Artist
Book nowBringing it Back Home: Follow-up Activities
Individual Journaling
Journal answers to the following questions as you think about your life, home, and community:
- What was similar about Uncle Calvin’s home and community to your own? What was different?
- What music, song lyrics or stories in your family or community have been inspired by nature?
- Think about the poi plant that is important to Uncle Calvin’s community. What are the staple (most common and used) foods in your community or family? What special memories do you have when you ate or shared those foods with others?
Discuss
Uncle Calvin talked about how much people use technology, computers and hard drives today, and how we often forget the importance of our community’s shared memory. Discuss with your classmates:
- What do you think about people using technology in their lives every day? What is helpful or harmful about using technology more than nature and relationships in our everyday lives?
- What history or skills have you learned from someone in your family or community by them teaching or demonstrating to you, rather than learning online or through technology?
Thank You Card
Write a thank you card for Uncle Calvin—be sure to include something personal about yourself and how it connects to him and his music.
Discuss & Research
As a small group, discuss what you learned about the Hawaiian food and musical tradition through this activity with Uncle Calvin. Using a computer, research more about Hawaiian music and answer these questions:
- What other instruments and styles of music are native to Hawaii?
- How did settlers affect or change the Hawaiian people and culture?
- Research 3 Hawaiian musicians that you didn’t know before:
- What do you think of their music?
- Find at least one recording or video of their music that really speaks to you—what is special about this song to you?
- Assemble a group “playlist” together of your class’s favorite songs by the Hawaiian musicians you discovered. End your day with a listening party!
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Prior to Artist Virtual Visit
Watch
Students watch accompanying video about the artist.
Discuss
In a small group of 2-4 classmates, share your answers to these questions:
- What were your first impressions and thoughts about Uncle Calvin Hoe?
- What did you like or find interesting about his music?
- What does the word “tradition” mean to you and how do traditions play a role in Uncle Calvin’s music and life?
- What kind of music reminds you of your home? Are there songs that make you think of your family, community, religion or culture?
- How does Uncle Calvin’s life intersect with nature?
Question
Think of 3 questions you want to ask Uncle Calvin Hoe.
Brainstorm & Share
Brainstorm and share out as a class:
What materials are instruments made from that you’ve seen or played? Think of each part of the instrument and what natural material it comes from.
Uncle Cal makes instruments like the ones you thought of above, but his are made from common plants found near his home. Think about the world outside your window. What could you use to make an instrument that you find outside? Come up with a list of objects and what sort of sounds you think each object would make.
Explore
Have the class go outside, (or use the classroom objects if outdoors is not possible), or have students use the outdoor space around their homes to complete this activity.
- Explore plants, trees, man-made objects in the playground, school or outside their homes, etc. to identify objects in nature with which they can make sounds with. Identify at least one “found sound” instrument or object.
- Explore this “found sound” instrument—what does it sound like when you tap it on different surfaces? Can you blow into or across it? What are all the possible sounds you can make?
- Bring their “found sound” instruments or objects to the classroom to share.
- Individually or in pairs, use these “found sound” instruments—students can create a new piece of music.
- Perform or demonstrate original compositions and “sound maps” for each other in a “found sound” showcase! Share with Uncle Calvin Hoe during his class visit!
Schedule a Virtual Visit With This Artist
Book nowBringing it Back Home: Follow-up Activities
Individual Journaling
Journal answers to the following questions as you think about your life, home, and community:
- What was similar about Uncle Calvin’s home and community to your own? What was different?
- What music, song lyrics or stories in your family or community have been inspired by nature?
- Think about the poi plant that is important to Uncle Calvin’s community. What are the staple (most common and used) foods in your community or family? What special memories do you have when you ate or shared those foods with others?
Discuss
Uncle Calvin talked about how much people use technology, computers and hard drives today, and how we often forget the importance of our community’s shared memory. Discuss with your classmates:
- What do you think about people using technology in their lives every day? What is helpful or harmful about using technology more than nature and relationships in our everyday lives?
- What history or skills have you learned from someone in your family or community by them teaching or demonstrating to you, rather than learning online or through technology?
Thank You Card
Write a thank you card for Uncle Calvin—be sure to include something personal about yourself and how it connects to him and his music.
Discuss & Research
As a small group, discuss what you learned about the Hawaiian food and musical tradition through this activity with Uncle Calvin. Using a computer, research more about Hawaiian music and answer these questions:
- What other instruments and styles of music are native to Hawaii?
- How did settlers affect or change the Hawaiian people and culture?
- Research 3 Hawaiian musicians that you didn’t know before:
- What do you think of their music?
- Find at least one recording or video of their music that really speaks to you—what is special about this song to you?
- Assemble a group “playlist” together of your class’s favorite songs by the Hawaiian musicians you discovered. End your day with a listening party!
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Downloadable Artist Activities
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Common Core Connections
Need help matching with your State Educational Standards? Contact us!
Reading – LiteratureDescribe how a narrator’s or speaker’s point of view influences how events are described.
Reading – Informational textExplain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.
WritingWrite informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
Introduce a topic clearly, provide a general observation and focus, and group related information logically; include formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.Speaking & ListeningEngage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Review the key ideas expressed and draw conclusions in light of information and knowledge gained from the discussions.Reading – LiteratureCompare and contrast the experience of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text, including contrasting what they “see” and “hear” when reading the text to what they perceive when they listen or watch.
Reading – Informational textDetermine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.
WritingConduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.
Speaking & ListeningEngage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Review the key ideas expressed and demonstrate understanding of multiple perspectives through reflection and paraphrasing.
Interpret information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how it contributes to a topic, text, or issue under study.
Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, images, music, sound) and visual displays in presentations to clarify information.