Category Archives: Featherwork

FIVE KAHILI WERE MADE FOR THE GOVERNOR

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FIVE KAHILI FOR THE GOVERNOR

From the Workers Under Mokumaia

Yesterday afternoon, these kahili were shown in Waikiki.

These kahili will become property of the territory.

According to J. K. Mokumaia, the workers are showing their congratulations to the governor as did the makaainana to their alii in the days gone by.

The kahili were began on May 2 and were completed on May 17.

F. M. B. Kahea is who has knowledge of how to make a kahili.

J. K. Mokumaia is the great general of the alii.

Some Hawaiians have [made] five kahili to present to Governor Farrington on the 9th of June.

At the right of the picture is M. Keawe, J. Kapaiki, Mokumaia, Piko Kamahaa, Clara Kaaipua, Minnie Kakalia, Kahea and Makekehau. Each large kahili has 8000 feathers.

(Alakai o Hawaii, 5/24/1928, p. 1)

Ke Alakai o Hawaii, Buke I, Helu 4, Aoao 1. Mei 24, 1928.

More on estate sale of Emma Aima Nawahi, 1936.

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Valued Relics Of Hawaiian Royalty Offered At Auction

Days of old Hawaii were brought to life yesterday morning when historical pieces of rare Hawaiian furniture, clothing, jewelry and ornaments belonging to the late Joseph K. Nawahi and the late Mrs. Emma A. Nawahi of Hilo were displayed and sold at auction at 1633 Nuuanu street. Valuable koa furniture, ancient leis made of feathers of extinct Island birds, tapas belonging to royalty and exquisite inlaid koa calabashes and cabinet articles were among the numerous varieties under the hammer. Continue reading →

Passing of J. K. Mokumaia covered in D.C. paper, 1929.

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“TWO-GUN” MOKUMAIA, HAWAIIAN GUARD, DEAD

Toured U. S. and Europe as Cowboy and Crack Shot With Buffalo Bill’s Show.

“Two-Gun” Mokumaia, a picturesque character of Honolulu, is dead. He was widely known in Hawaii, and during the last few years, as foreman of the Capitol grounds, he made friends with hundreds of tourist visitors. In his youth Mokumaia, says the San Francisco Chronicle, was a paniolo (cowboy) and became so proficient as a horseman, roper and crack shot that he joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, touring the United States and Europe as a Hawaiian cowboy. Continue reading →

Kalaniopuu’s ahuula and mahiole, the latests, 2020.

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Feather Cloak and Helmet Gifted to Captain Cook to Return Permanently to Hawaiʻi

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi—An ʻahu ʻula (feather cloak) and mahiole (feather helmet) gifted to Captain Cook in 1779 are being permanently returned to Hawaiʻi by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

These cherished items were gifts from Hawaiian Chief Kalaniʻōpuʻu to Captain James Cook and have been in Te Papa’s collection since being gifted to the museum in 1912.

Continue reading →

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Traditional mele and oli demonstrated, 1936.

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ANCIENT ISLE MUSIC PLAYED

By MARY SALISBURY
(Special Star-Bulletin Correspondence)

LIHUE, Kauai, July 30.—A delightful hour of ancient Hawaiian chanting and use of the oldest musical instruments of the islands was presented by Fred Malulani Beckley Kahea and Timothy Makalei Montgomery on Monday evening at the parish house.

Both Mr. Kahea and Mr.Montgomery are from Honolulu and the program was sponsored by the Kauai Historical society and the Kauai Chamber of Commerce. Continue reading →

Lei Day 50 years ago, 1968.

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It all started in 1928

Wear your aloha shirts, muumuus, leis tomorrow

As has been the custom since Grace Tower Warren and Don Blanding began the observance of Lei Day in 1928, aloha shirts, muumuus and leis will be the garb of the day tomorrow.

Throughout the Islands each year on May Day, schools and other institutions present their May programs and lei contests.

The Oahu Lei Contest, sponsored by the Department of Parks and Recreation, will be judged tomorrow and the leis will be on display at the Waikiki Shell from 1 to 9 p.m.

Prizes totaling $650 will be awarded to  lei makers in different categories.

Darlene Bakke, this year’s lei queen, will reign over the festivities including music, hula dancing and pageantry, to be held at the Shell.

A demonstration of kahili making—kahilis were the standard of royalty in Old Hawaii—will be given from 9 to 11 a.m. on the Shell lawn. Continue reading →

At Waimanalo, Mololani, and Mokumanu are your mats of feathers, 1886.

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HE INOA NU’A HULU NO KA MOIWAHINE KAPIOLANI.

(Hakuia e Mrs. A. L. K.)

A i Waimanalo ko Nua Hulu,
I hakuia mai e Mololani,
Noho o Kalani hano i ka nani,
I ka lawe hoolai a ka mokuahi,
Hoohihi ka manao e ike aku,
E kilohi i ka nani o ka Mokumanu,
O ka pohai a ka manu i ka lewa,
Kikahakaha lua i ka ilikai,
Welo haaheo ko Hae Kalaunu,
Ua ike mai o Malei ke kupua,
Oia kai kapu la ua noa,
Ua hehiku aku nei o Kalani,
Nau i olali hoohie aku,
Oia mau ale hanupanupa,
Ka iniki welawela a ke ehukai,
Lamalama ua i ka nani alii,
Liilii na hana a ke Telefone,
Haihai olelo me ka huapala,
Kulia ka anuu la e o mai,
Ka wahine nona ka Lei Hooheno. Continue reading →

New kahili made by Keahi Luahine, 1920.

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CEREMONY MARKS TRANSFER OF FINE PAGEANT KAHILIS

Fourteen magnificent kahilis, completed after three months of painstaking toil by a Hawaiian, Keahi Luahine, of Kakaako, especially for the great Missionary Centennial Pageant of Tuesday next, were last evening, at 7 o’clock, ceremoniously conveyed from Kakaako to Bishop Hall, Punahou.

The ceremonies attending the transfer were such as would have been held in honor of such royal symbols in the past. They are replicas of kahilis now in the Bishop museum. Continue reading →