Hawaiian Ipu Hula Dance ImplementThroughout the world, gourds are used for hundreds of uses. But in Hawaii, we have a unique and ancient traditional use for our large gourds. We hollow and clean the gourd. Later, we polish it to a nice shine and use it as a percussive instrument in the hula dance. Hula dancers are rarely without an ipu gourd. Held with one hand, usually with the help of an attached rope, a rhythm can be beaten with the free hand. Ipu are used in both ancient (Kahiko)