PIFA (Pacific Islander Festival Association of San Diego) was wonderful again as usual. It is a great festival of all the Pacific Islands at Ski Beach (Mission Bay). It occurs every year around September, and since we do not have anything like it in Chicago, off I go to San Diego. The weather was a nice, sunny 83 degrees the whole weekend.
I saw the Kutturan Chamoru perform (shout out to Joey and Heidi), along with Nonosina and Heali'i's Polynesian Review. What wonderful dancing! Can't see anything like it in Chicago, so many great groups all at one place. And there is no admission fee.
And in between performances, I walked to the booths where you can sample food from Guam, Samoa, and Hawaii. Big Ono to shaved ice! Then there were tons of booths to walk to and shop. It makes me wish we had a group of halaus in Chicago that could get together and have a festival here also.
It is a wonderful experience and great taste of the Islands. There are also festivals in Arizona and Las Vegas that I need to hit in the future.
September 27, 2009
September 22, 2009
Making uli uli
I bought the supplies online to make it, since I wanted to make my own verses buying them already made. You can buy the kits to make it, just shoot me a message if you want the website. I made a pair. You will need 2 la'amia (gourd), ali'ipoe (canna seeds), 2 wooden dowels (1 inch diameter), ratan, raffia, 2 round flat disks for the top, stung feathers and tapa cloth for the top, and cream material to cover the top of uli uli (if you want it to be detachable tops, you will need another material)
First, I got the la'amia (gourd base) and sanded it. I used a medium grade sandpaper to get out most of the bumps, then switched to a fine grade sandpaper to really smooth it out. I found sanding it by hand pretty easy. I washed it with water make sure it is smooth and clear of any remains of the sanding. I let it dry.
Second, I screwed the dowel in the middle of the disk.
Third, I put the ali'ipoe seeds in the la'amia (which had the holes already drilled in it). Then put the other end of the dowel through the hole. There should be little holes around the big hole in the la'amia. I thread the raffia in and out. I did this 4 separate times and wrapped this around the dowel. The raffia will help attach the dowel and the la'amia and the ratan will hold this all together.
Forth, I soaked the ratan first for at least 30 minutes. I wrapped the cream colored material around the top, covering the disk and part of the top of the dowel. I started from the top of the dowel. I tucked the tip of the ratan under and started wrapping the ratan over the tip, starting from the top. The ratan needs to cover the material. Then I continued to wrap the ratan around the dowel all the way to the bottom of the dowel. I covered the raffia with the ratan. Then when I got to the bottom of the dowel, there is the raffia attached to the la'amia. I weaved the ratan around the raffia, which also tightens the la'amia to the dowel. And then tucked the end of the ratan around the raffia. The ratan has to be wrapped tight.
Fifth, make the detachable top. The cream top is round. I sewed the casing on the edge of the cream material (this is where I will put the string so it can wrap around the uli uli base). I marked where the tapa cloth will be centered on the cream material with a pencil. Then I sewed the feathers around the edge, and then I sewed the tapa cloth in the center of the material. Finally, I thread the sting in the casing and the top is ready.
Finally, finish the la'amia. I used a glossy polyurethane. But there is also kukui nut oil or any other finishes. Let dry for at least a day. Then I put the top on and tightened and tied it to the base. It is ready to use!
It seems hard to do, but it really was easy and fun to do!
First, I got the la'amia (gourd base) and sanded it. I used a medium grade sandpaper to get out most of the bumps, then switched to a fine grade sandpaper to really smooth it out. I found sanding it by hand pretty easy. I washed it with water make sure it is smooth and clear of any remains of the sanding. I let it dry.
Second, I screwed the dowel in the middle of the disk.
Third, I put the ali'ipoe seeds in the la'amia (which had the holes already drilled in it). Then put the other end of the dowel through the hole. There should be little holes around the big hole in the la'amia. I thread the raffia in and out. I did this 4 separate times and wrapped this around the dowel. The raffia will help attach the dowel and the la'amia and the ratan will hold this all together.
Forth, I soaked the ratan first for at least 30 minutes. I wrapped the cream colored material around the top, covering the disk and part of the top of the dowel. I started from the top of the dowel. I tucked the tip of the ratan under and started wrapping the ratan over the tip, starting from the top. The ratan needs to cover the material. Then I continued to wrap the ratan around the dowel all the way to the bottom of the dowel. I covered the raffia with the ratan. Then when I got to the bottom of the dowel, there is the raffia attached to the la'amia. I weaved the ratan around the raffia, which also tightens the la'amia to the dowel. And then tucked the end of the ratan around the raffia. The ratan has to be wrapped tight.
Fifth, make the detachable top. The cream top is round. I sewed the casing on the edge of the cream material (this is where I will put the string so it can wrap around the uli uli base). I marked where the tapa cloth will be centered on the cream material with a pencil. Then I sewed the feathers around the edge, and then I sewed the tapa cloth in the center of the material. Finally, I thread the sting in the casing and the top is ready.
Finally, finish the la'amia. I used a glossy polyurethane. But there is also kukui nut oil or any other finishes. Let dry for at least a day. Then I put the top on and tightened and tied it to the base. It is ready to use!
It seems hard to do, but it really was easy and fun to do!
September 15, 2009
Tired of the same old routine at the gym?
Try polynesian dancing as a new way to stay fit!
Isla Pacifika offers weekly classes where you learn to dance the basics of hula, tahitian, and chamorro dancing.
Classes run every Wednesday at 8:20 p.m.
4057 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60618
So stop by, bring some friends and check it out!
By the way, your first class is free!!
For more info, visit:
or email us at islapacifika@gmail.com
September 2, 2009
How to make a hip belt weight for Tahitian class
If you want to give yourself a bigger workout during Tahitian class, you can make a hip belt weight.
1. Buy a bicycle tire inner tube. Make sure it is long enough to be able to knot around your hips. Also, the longer the tube, the more it will weigh. I would also look for a soft and more pliable inner tube. Otherwise it is harder to tie when filled with sand if the inner tube is too thick.
2. Tie off one end and fill with sand from one end to the other. Pack it in good. I shake it and tap it down and keep filling.Then tie off the other end.
Then you are done! Just tie it around your hips during class or whenever you practice Tahitian dancing! I just wear it the whole class.
1. Buy a bicycle tire inner tube. Make sure it is long enough to be able to knot around your hips. Also, the longer the tube, the more it will weigh. I would also look for a soft and more pliable inner tube. Otherwise it is harder to tie when filled with sand if the inner tube is too thick.
2. Tie off one end and fill with sand from one end to the other. Pack it in good. I shake it and tap it down and keep filling.Then tie off the other end.
Then you are done! Just tie it around your hips during class or whenever you practice Tahitian dancing! I just wear it the whole class.
September 1, 2009
In addition, adding a pa'u top
I have made 2 different types of pa'u tops. One is short and more revealing and the other is long and the usual one you see in kahiko style dancing. If you used long material for the pa'u skirt, over 45 inches, you can get away with making the short pa'u top. I have just used the length of what is left over from the pa'u skirt
1. get material. I use about 1 1/2 yards for my top, so basically half the length of the pa'u skirt. The length should be long, so you can tuck it in the pa'u skirt, about mid thigh. If you want to show your middrift, then just measure armpit to belly button, taking to account your breast. Or just use what is leftover from the pa'u skirt.
2. you will need elastic. This I usually use a thinner elastic, about 3/8". I just measure the circumference above your breast and under armpits for the top elastic. If you are making the shorter top, you will need a second piece of elastic. Just measure under the breast.
I minus a couple of inches off the measurement, depending on how stretchy the elastic is. That is the elastic length.
3. Sew a 1/2 inch casing on the top. This is where you will thread your elastic. For the long top, just finish the bottom part. For the short top, you need to also sew a 1/2 inch casing on the bottom also.
4. Put the elastic through the casing using a knitting needle, or big safety pin (be careful that the pin does not open)
5. Sew the width together and make sure you sew the elastic on both ends together.
1. get material. I use about 1 1/2 yards for my top, so basically half the length of the pa'u skirt. The length should be long, so you can tuck it in the pa'u skirt, about mid thigh. If you want to show your middrift, then just measure armpit to belly button, taking to account your breast. Or just use what is leftover from the pa'u skirt.
2. you will need elastic. This I usually use a thinner elastic, about 3/8". I just measure the circumference above your breast and under armpits for the top elastic. If you are making the shorter top, you will need a second piece of elastic. Just measure under the breast.
I minus a couple of inches off the measurement, depending on how stretchy the elastic is. That is the elastic length.
3. Sew a 1/2 inch casing on the top. This is where you will thread your elastic. For the long top, just finish the bottom part. For the short top, you need to also sew a 1/2 inch casing on the bottom also.
4. Put the elastic through the casing using a knitting needle, or big safety pin (be careful that the pin does not open)
5. Sew the width together and make sure you sew the elastic on both ends together.
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