I've never made an atlatl, but I do make spears. Guess that could be my next project.
http://www.primitiveways.com/a...
I've been growing 'Ohe, Hawaiian Bamboo for the purpose of crafts.
The 'ohe hano ihu, is the Hawaiian nose flute. Modernly it is used in accompanying chants and hula. Traditionally it was used between lovers when one may not be in the mood and the other helped to get them in the mood.
Ka'eke'eke, the bamboo percussion instrument, was made by cutting 'Ohe to various lengths & diameters, the tubes were struck on the ground to produce sound. Solid tubes would produce sounds of different pitches. Some tubes were cut part way down into strips to produce rattling sounds.
1st pic is 'Ohe, Hawaiian Bamboo,
Schizostachyum glaucifolium. It is a clumper that is thin walled, and lends itself well to produce sounds of Hawai'i's musical traditions. It also makes good eating shoots. It can't hold weight structurally, but can be used as siding for walls. I have seen students at UH Hilo cut the culms and fashion them into cheap shelving; a modern use I guess.
2nd plant is of La'au Lomilomi, Hawaiian Massage Sticks. One of the traditional tools I make with ki'i (human figures) on them.
