How to Choose Your Uli Uli
Mike Kop, Hula Supply Center:
How to Choose Your Uli Uli
Mike Kop, second generation hula implement maker, welcomes you to enjoy the scenery from Waikiki to Kapiolani Park in a video on How to Choose Your Uli Uli.
Seated on a lauhala mat at the Kapiolani Park bandstand, traditional site for performances by the Royal Hawaiian Band for over a hundred years, Mike gets down to business in demonstrating how to choose an Uli Uli for you, your students, children, friends or family.
How do you choose a pair of Uli Uli?
There are four criteria:
1. Size
2. Sound
3. Style
4. Color
1. Size: Large, Medium and Small
Large is too big for the average adult and teenager, so would be out of the question for any child. Tall male hula dancers enjoy the large Uli Uli.
Medium is the ideal size for 99% of the population. This is the right size for most adults, teens and some children.
Small is ideal for children younger than six or seven years old. For petite children, such as the Asian population, they may prefer the small size for girls as old as eight or nine years old.
NOTE: In time, the red feathers start curling inward, making the Uli Uli look smaller.
Mike’s Tips:
**Remember that the red feathers curl inward with time, making the Uli Uli appear more fluffy and smaller.
** Medium, Medium, Medium.
2. Sound: The most important feature for dancers.
As a manufacturer of Uli Uli, a very important part of making the hula dancer look good is by making the Uli Uli sound good. At the factory, gourds are diligently cleaned inside, then filled with plastic beads or ali’i poe seeds.
The advantage of the plastic beads is that it is more economical.
The advantage of the ali’i poe seeds is the excellent sound they generate.
How do you test the sound?
Take several pairs of Detachable Uli Uli Rattles. Shake each pair for five (5) to ten (10) seconds. If you are at Hula Supply Center, you can repeat this process with all the Uli Uli Rattles in stock! Mike recommends selecting the Uli Uli with the loudest sound.
Mike’s Tips:
** Test each pair of the detachable rattles by shaking them for about five to ten seconds until you find the sound you like best.
** If you are purchasing Uli Uli on-line or phone-in order, ask Mike or Hula Supply Center staff to select the best pair for you.
3. Style: Permanent Uli Uli, or the Detachable Uli Uli (separated rattles and feathers).
Why did Mike Kop Invent
the Detachable Uli Uli?
It is EASY for you!
Benefit 1: Maintenance
Practice without the feathers, making the feathers last longer.
Benefit 2: Convenience
Packing, storage, shipping and handling is easier than the permanent Uli Uli.
Benefit 3: Replacement
If damaged, Detachable rattles can be replaced with a NEW PAIR of Detachable rattles ($35/pair); replacing a permanent pair of Uli Uli costs twice as much.
Benefit 4: Switching Cap Colors
Feather caps are easy to change, from the common Red and Yellow to any other color, by just pulling off one cap and tying on another.
Mike’s Tips:
** Mike feels that the Detachable Uli Uli (separable rattle and feather cap) is a better value than the permanent Uli Uli style.
** If you don’t live in Hawai’i, order on-line at www.hulasupplycenter.com, or phone-in your order, requesting DETACHABLE Uli Uli.
4. Color:
Did you know that the contemporary red and yellow Uli Uli colors date back to when the chiefs used these two colors
in their feather helmets and feather capes?
Hula dancers carry on the tradition of wearing red and yellow and using them in traditional implements as a means of honoring the kings and chiefs of Hawai’i.
Colors of Uli Uli, Permanent and Detachable Feather Caps, include, and not limited to:
- Red and yellow, traditional Auana Style with red feathers on the outside and yellow feathers in the center.
- Yellow, or any one color, inside and outside.
- Purple with lavender, (Queen’s colors) a 1940’s style.
- Natural brown feathers from roosters, this Kahiko Style can be custom ordered.
- Special design combines the natural brown rooster feathers with the ilima goose feathers encircling the kapa.
It is easy to replace the Uli Uli feathers. Simply put it on the detachable Uli Uli rattle, tie a bow and tuck the strings under the fabric.
Mike’s Tips:
** Choose several different colored caps and replace them on the detachable Uli Uli Rattle.
** 1, 2 or 3 color combinations can be custom ordered by fax, on-line or by phone.
** If you don’t live in Hawai’i, order on-line at www.hulasupplycenter.com, or phone-in your order, requesting DETACHABLE Uli Uli Rattles and specify color(s) of feather caps.
