Lesson to Learn

In 2019, we stopped by Woody Howard’s music and furniture store on Moorea and found this lovely ukulele with a soundboard made from island tou wood. This beautiful wood has wonderful tonal quality and was once reserved for use by the Ali’i (ruling class) only. I played it for 20 minutes or more, mesmerized by its feel and sound. I had not planned on purchasing another ukulele, but this had the sound that exceeded my imaginations of the perfect sounding ukulele, and had been made by a local luthier using native wood.

I was going to think about it and decide the next day whether or not to buy it, but my dearly beloved, reminded me of the lesson I should have learned in Molokai 4 years earlier (See yesterday’s blog: https://eskildoodle.com/2023/01/26/a-fools-errand). “Buy it now,” she advised, “or you might lose the opportunity, and you will regret it.” Minutes later we were back at the store, with credit card in hand and a huge smile, and left with the wonderful instrument.

I have named it “Te Honu Iti,” which in Tahitian means “The Little Turtle,” due to its rounded body reminding me of a sea turtle shell. I play it regularly and its sound seems to just get better with time. It was a great decision not to wait, and that was a lesson well worth learning.

#moorea, #ukulele #touwood #woodyhoward