In times of desperation, seek skiddy undies
Indulge yourself in the comprehensive compendium of crafting excellence, a voyage into the sphere of poi craftsmanship where innovation reigns supreme. Welcome to the pinnacle of guides for fabricating life-altering, homemade poi within the confines of Aotearoa nei. For this is not merely a guide, but a revelation, an unveiling of the artistry that is poi-making.
In all of our kapa haka girly struggles where poi are broken, stolen and lost, we’ve struggled through thick and thin to use ANYTHING as a poi in order to memorise the item for practice on Saturday. As we made our way out of our stress and struggle to that ātamira, we discovered that all you need for a makeshift poi is something that swings and something to stick to the end of that swing for a succulent pūrerehua (and also you know, just some basic crafting skills and maybe a trip to the dollar store at times).
Now, you might think you need to call upon the knowledge of our tīpuna but fear not.Behold the esoteric realms of DIY poi creation. We are at the precipice of revolutionising the poi landscape, redefining its boundaries, and unshackling it from the annals of tradition. In the crucible of our kapa haka trials and tribulations, we have persevered, crafting makeshift poi from whatever materials fate bestows upon us. The essence of poi, we have learned, lies not only in ancient practice but in resourcefulness.
Methodology, as we shall unfold, unveils a variety of clearly superior approaches to crafting poi. In the tapestry of improvisation, our first revelation emerges. Farewell to mundane substitutes and make way for the ingenious concoction of undies stuffed within a sock:
Method no.1: The Sock Undies Method.
A veritable lifesaver in times of desperation. Assemble, dear artisans, a sock and a pair of undergarments. Stuff the undergarments within the sock, and voilà—a perfectly poised swing at your fingertips.
Method no. 2: The Bread Bag Ballet.
Those forsaken end-slices of bread, often disregarded, suddenly find purpose. By scrunching the slices at the bag’s nethermost, executing a graceful twist, a novel poi technique is birthed.
Method no. 3: a testament to both perseverance and creativity: The Lanyard and Keys Sonata.
This technique, while acknowledged for its potential pain and bruising, showcases resounding success. Commandeer your kaiako’s lanyard, secure an array of keys, and an impromptu poi is born. Though knuckles may bear witness to the struggle, the hand of a hautipua remains resolute.
Method no. 4: an ode to the utilitarian spirit: The Marae Tea Towel.
Despite the inherent lack of requisite weight for a poi’s swing, these tea towels, in the bustling symphony of a marae kitchen, unveil themselves as an accessible alternative. When the whānau harmonises over marae classics, these tea towels elevate to the forefront of pragmatic poi options.
In the grand tapestry of poi-making, these methods signify a departure from convention, a testament to human adaptability and resourcefulness. Poi, once steeped in tradition, now embraces modernity, proving that the spirit of innovation can even dance within the realm of weighted spheres on tethers.
In the expedition through artisanal poi creation, we have traversed the customary boundaries of established mores. The artistry intrinsic to poi-crafting, deeply entrenched in cultural fabric, has assumed a modern guise, underscoring adaptability survivor mode in Polyfest season.
And as we conclude, the aptitude to envision beyond conventional paradigms, discern utility within unanticipated precincts, and assimilate unconventional methodologies represents an invaluable cognitive faculty to make it through haka trials and prevail as frontline middle.
Therefore, in our parting, let the spirit of inventive ideation and an inclination for audacious experimentation be our guiding ethos. May we internalise these acquired tenets—the confluence of heritage and innovation—as an exemplar for all our intellectual and practical pursuits. Advancing forth, embracing a renewed reverence for the fusion of antiquity and novelty, we set the stage for further exploration, progress and dropped poi.
WĀHINE TOA KŌTIRO MA!