Learn String Figures | Lois & Earl Stokes, CZT™

Umeke ai o Hina (poi calabash of Hina)

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:21:48 -1000

String Figure Umeke Ai O Hina
(Poi Calabash of Hina)
Made on Kauai and Niihau

O wau no o Hina.
O luna, o lalo;
Me ka akau a i ka hema;
Umeke o Hina.

I belong to Hina.
Above, below,
North (right) to south (left),
Calabash of Hina.

This chant was recorded by Lyle A. Dickey and can be found in String Figures from Hawaii. Bernice P. Bishop Museum Bulletin 54. Honolulu: 1928.

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Note: Children often see this fiugure as a kite, a plane, a bird or the wind

1. Put the loop of string around your big toe (we are using our moon stick to represent your big toe.)

2. Wrap the right hand string around your big toe one more time. Extend the strings so that they are drawn tight

3. Put both of your hands into the long loop from below.

4. Put your right hand over the right string and your left hand over the left string. Turn your hands A) down,

B) toward the center

C) and up.

5. With both hands pull out the toe string loop.

6. Keep pulling towards you until the loops on your wrist slip off and let them lie on the string held in your hands. Pull tightly and extend so that the final figure can be seen.

Nine Eyes

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:58:05 -1000

Nine Eyes
Made on Oahu
Dickey 1928:126

How To Make The String Figure Nine Eyes

1. Start by facing the palms of your hands together with your fingers pointing up. Now loop the string around both the left and right thumbs and extend by stretching your hands out so that the string is tight.

2. With the little finger of your right hand pick up the far right thumb string. Do the same with the little finger of your left hand and extend.

3. Put loops on each thumb and little finger by taking a turn around each little finger with far little finger string and a turn around each thumb with near thumb string.

4. With each index pick up from below the little finger loop of the opposite hand.

5. With each ring finger pick up from below the thumb loop of the opposite hand and extend.

Watch the Video

Bracelet

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:52:26 -1000

How To Make The Bracelet Of Rainbow Blessings

A loop is made by turning the right hand part of the string on top of the left, then a part of the right hand string is pulled up through the back of this loop, and by pulling slightly taut, a slip knot is made; then more of the right hand string is pulled up through this new loop and the hanging strings pulled tight and so on until a series of knots are made and the bracelet is formed.

A knot is then tied with the remaining string to hold the circle together.

Nenue (One Eye)

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:44:01 -1000

One Eye or nenue
Made on Oahu
Dickey 1928:19

1. Hang string on left thumb.
2. Put left little finger into loop (so that the string goes from behind your thumb across your palm and behind your left little finger. The long loop hangs down in front).
3. With your left palm facing you, put right thumb (your hitchhiking thumb) into the hanging loop near your left thumb. Turn right thumb towards the body and up while hooking the hanging string on your right thumb. Put right little finger into the loop from below and extend (This looks like an x with the strings crossed in the middle).
4. The index finger of your right hand swims across to pick up from below the palmar string of your left hand (The string that goes across your palm) and swims back. Extend by stretching your hands so that the strings are tight.
5. Now with the index finger of your left hand swim across and pick up from below the right palmar string and swim back. Extend your hands so that the strings are stretched tight.
6. Drop your thumbs (let go of the thumb strings).
7. With your thumbs go over the two strings on your pointer fingers and under to pick up near little finger string.
8. Extend your fingers so that the strings are tight and the one diamond shape can be seen.

Honu (Turtle)

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:24:57 -1000

String Figure, Honu (Turtle)
Made on Maui and Kaua'i
Dickey 1928: 77

Start by facing the palms of your hands together with your fingers pointing up. Now loop the string around both the left and right thumbs and return by stretching your hands out so that the string is tight.

Now the little finger of your right hand picks up the far right thumb string. Do the same with the little finger of your left hand. The string that goes across your palm is called the palmar string.

Using the index finger of your right hand pick up from below the palmar string of your left hand and return by stretching your hands so that the strings are tight.

Now with the index finger of your left hand pick up from below the right palmar string making sure that you pull it through the loop that goes around your right index finger.

Thumbs pick up near index finger string. Little fingers pick up far index finger string. You will now have two strings on your thumbs and little fingers. There will be an upper string and a lower string. Navaho the thumbs and little fingers.