Ever since I can remember, I've had this passion for the Beach and one of my favourite string instruments, the Ukulele.
I live on the beautiful mainland island of Rarotonga, one of fifteen amazing islands in the Cook Islands and one of the most spectacular scenery; apart from the torquise blue lagoon of course, is the beautiful sandy beaches the stretches and winds in the distance.
Great thing about being at the beach is that it has this sort of serenity where you can just chill, relax and loose yourself in the moment. As if time stood still. Here on the island the beach is sheltered by swaying green coconut trees; short and tall, Ironwood trees and beach hibiscus; that nurture our local birds, elegant creeping plants that creates a sort of contrast with the white sandy beach. Nowhere else in the world that I know of has this vast array of beauty.
Now to add to all that beauty is my Ukulele. An instrument that can be carved from many different hardwood such as Ironwood or the Beach Hibiscus. Mine is carved from the trunk of a coconut tree - the tree of life as my Ancestors would say. I don't know if you already know this but everything from the fronds to the roots are used. Palm fronds can be made into a broom, the coconut husk can be weaved into one of kind slippers, the nutshell and juice as a drink; great protein source, drinking cup, body oil - the trunk for carving and the roots for medical purposes. Yep, a very versitle tree and that's only some of it's many uses.
So why did I go in that direction? Well, the wood of my Ukulele has an awesome rough grain pattern which is unique and although not as long lasting as Ironwood, it has the characteristics of something that you would want to take care of - making it that more emotionally valuable. In my book, that's something worthwhile...what do you think?
Although we have our own Ukulele design - where a the coconut shell carries the sound, the Ukulele design that I have, was adobted by our Polynesian family from Tahiti. Think of it as a cross between an Electric guitar and a Hawaiian Kamaka. A complex 8 string nylon instrument that's high pitched but with an easy flowing sound that will probably mesmirize the Greek mythological Sirens...lol.
Now there's a lot of reasons that I can say why the beach and my Ukulele go so well together. For me it's the peace it brings; it's like natures own Psychologist bringing sound and serenity together and handing it to you for free.
But hey...what do you think?