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Bamboo sticks, one end of each cut into a fringe so that they produce a rattling sound when played by hula dancers.

The term slackkey refers to a style of playing the guitar in which the strings are loosened, producing a jangly sound. Gabby Pahinui was, perhaps, the most famous of Hawai’i’s slack-key masters – others included Raymond Kane and Sonny Chillingworth.

As in jazz ensembles, the standing bass has found its way into a lot of contemporary Hawaiian music.

The Hawaiian steel guitar was born in the islands around the turn of the 20th century, but exactly where, when, and how is still a point of discussion. The instrument is held horizontally on the player’s lap, and a sliding steel bar is used instead of fingers on the fret board. The sound was particularly big during the Sweet Leilani era.

From 1900 to the early 1930s was the era when U.S. mainland composers were greatly influenced by Hawai’i, mostly as a result of the way the islands were portrayed by Hollywood. This era – when songs likeSweet Leilani ,Yacka Hula Hickey Dula , andMy Honolulu Lady were composed – is called the Hapa-Haole or Sweet Leilani era.

As an oral tradition, Hawaiian stories and family histories were related through chant (oli) . Ranging greatly in style, oli are used for scores of reasons, from prayers and lamentations to requests for permission to gather flora.

As a miscellany of musical styles from around the world has made its way to the islands, so it is increasingly influencing musicians. Jawaiian describes a blend of reggae and Hawaiian music, and island rappers are now putting their own slant on hip-hop music.

Smooth stones – two are held in each hand and played by hula dancers in a style similar to Spanish castanets.

A gift from the Portuguese that’s now integral to modern Hawaiian music. “Jumping flea” was how Hawaiians first described the sound.

Gourd shakers that are filled with seeds and usually topped with feathers.