In Hawaiian culture, kapa was the everyday wear of kanaka (people of Hawaiʻi). Many kanaka had various styles, prints and colors that were specific to themselves, moʻolelo (stories), ʻāina (land) and so on. We feature these kapa pieces within Hale Kukuna to touch on the rich history of fashion within Hawaiʻi and how it has evolved to where we are today, continuing to tell stories through our clothing and tapping into the ʻike (knowledge) of our kupuna (ancestors).

The malo on display within Hale Kukuna was made by Kumu Lisa Raymond and the pāʻū was made by her daughter Kaleʻa Raymond. Both Lisa and Kaleʻa are from Kula, Maui and are masters in the traditional Hawaiian art of kapa making, ʻohe kāpala and kūpenu (dying).

Both pieces were dyed using natural plant dyes, the malo (7 feet long) using the noni root, ʻalaea and maʻo and the pāʻū (12 feet long) using kukui ash and ʻalaea.

The kapa is beaten out to the desired size and width using a traditional beater called an ʻie kūkū on a wooden anvil known as a kua. 

There are two styles of lei hulu that we feature here in Hale Kukuna. Poepoe and kāmoe.

Poepoe is the circular shape of the lei whereas kāmoe is when the feathers are lying flat, as if they are sleeping.

The pieces on display were created by a local lei hulu maker, Jayren Watson, who resides in Kula, Maui with lineal ties to Lāhāina.

Lei hulu, feathers in general, signified one’s status within society and were typically reserved for the high ranking aliʻi (chiefs).

A single lei hulu can take anywhere from 2,500 – 3,000 feathers. Traditionally, Hawaiians would have used native birds to make these beautiful lei, however, the art of creating lei hulu as it exists today involves sourcing feathers from pheasants, geese and ducks due to 80% of the native bird species of Hawaiʻi having gone extinct.

The ʻukulele originated in Portugal and was brought here to Hawaiʻi by the Portuguese during the plantation era, originally named Machete do Braca.

The ʻukulele on display in Hale Kukuna, created by locally-owned businesses Kamaka ʻUkulele and Kanileʻa ʻUkulele, are of two variations – four string and six string.