Sounds of the Pacific: Unique hula sounds

The South Pacific vibrates with "unique hula sounds." Masterfully carved timber and animal skin drums, large conch shells gathered from the wild Pacific ocean, eerie echoing voices, beautifully melodies of a string band, and a large Cabin-bread biscuit tin (beaten with a stick) to give the familiar sound of hail falling on a tin roof". These are all examples of the unparalleled creative sounds of Polynesia, and indeed, the South Pacific.

I have been to hundreds of Polynesian hula shows which usually begin with the magnetic Conch shell sound ... welcoming and inviting it's guests. From the very first moment of hearing that sound, you know that something special is going to happen. People are drawn to it like moths to a flame.

Then you are captured by pulsating beats of the tropical drum symphony booming out into the air. The rhythms are like beacons in the night... drawing you in. They are so enticing, so vibrant, so energetic, so very hard to resist.

We here at hula-with-me love hearing the beautiful harmonious voices of the Pacific. It is very easy to become transfixed with the beautiful welcoming voices, eerie mystical chants and ferocious war cries and haka. If you ever get the opportunity, we recommend visiting a Pacific Island church session. The choirs are out of this world; and the variety of harmonies sung is truly spiritual.

There are many unique hula sounds in the South Pacific. Why not learn more about these wonderous sounds? It's a great way to impress your friends at a "luau dinner" or "beach party". And the next time you go to a Polynesian show, you'll know exactly what, how and why these sounds are so unique.

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