This original tale of "hold hands and stick together" traces the footsteps of six young bottle gourds from the emerald green valley of their birth to the loving arms of their "new vines" - six young students of hula who live far from the little gourds' homeland. This book is an imaginative look into the life story of a hula implement. Separated from their vines at a tender age, the little gourds are taken to the home of a local implement maker. There they meet Uncle Ka Leo, a grand and grumpy ipu heke, who gives them tantalizing glimpses of what they someday may become. Even though the little gourds are frightened and insecure, sticking together gives them the courage that carries them safely through their many adventures. While one of the little gourds is constantly worried that his imperfection will be his downfall, it turns out in the end (as it does for many of us) that his imperfection is what makes him special and unique. As the hula students learn about their new implements, the little gourds learn about themselves as well. Once each girl finds the ipu hula they feel is really, really theirs, the little gourds find that they too have re-captured their long-lost feelings of "being connected." In spite of life's uncertainties and insecurities, this story reminds us all that happy endings are possible, even in the most unexpected of places.
- Publisher : Bess Press (November 28, 2005)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 32 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1573061867
- ISBN-13 : 978-1573061865
- Dimensions : 8.75 x 0.25 x 11.5 inches