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Whai - String Games
The term Whai for String games is a shortened version of Te Whai Wawewawe a
Maui.
The forming of various designs, of which there are many, was practiced for amusement as well as for improving dexterity of the fingers. Both children and adults play whai.
Competitions are sometimes held, with the aim being to complete a certain set of patterns in the fastest time possible.
The simpler forms of whai are the diamonds, with the 2 and the 4 of diamonds being the easiest.
2 Diamonds
The forming of various designs, of which there are many, was practiced for amusement as well as for improving dexterity of the fingers. Both children and adults play whai.
Competitions are sometimes held, with the aim being to complete a certain set of patterns in the fastest time possible.
The simpler forms of whai are the diamonds, with the 2 and the 4 of diamonds being the easiest.
2 Diamonds
In whai all the figures are given names and usually represent a story, an
object or star paths.
Some figures require more than one person to form
them. The use of several people to form a complicated design is quite common.
Whare
A beginner should master one figure at a time. When some skill has
been attained, forming the figures while singing a song is a good way to learn
movement at a constant speed.
