In a partnership between the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), The National Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, and Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, the renowned ‘ahu ‘ula and mahiole of Kalani‘ōpu‘u will make their way back to Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, in March 2016 to be displayed at Bishop Museum on long-term loan.
In 1779, the reigning Ali’i nui or high chief of Hawai‘i Island, Kalani‘ōpu‘u, greeted British captain, James Cook, in Kealakekua Bay, in what would become a watershed moment in Hawaiian history. In an act of graciousness and goodwill, Kalani‘ōpu‘u drapped his ‘ahu ʻula (feathered cloak) over the shoulders of his intrepid guest and handed, the famous explorer his mahiole (feathered helmet), marking the beginning of Hawai’i’s entre to the global community with a gift of peace.
In ancient Hawaii, the feathered cloak and helmet had significant material value, however it was the intrinsic and spiritual value that made artifacts of this kind priceless, for Native Hawaiians.
In ancient times, the ‘ahu ‘ula, mahiole, and all other feather work were reserved exclusively for the use of royalty, symbolizing divinity, rank, and power. Only high-ranking chiefs or warriors of renown were entitled to wear these exceptional garments. The bright, velvety feathers were carefully plucked from tropical honeycreepers endemic to Hawai'i. Red feathers were collected from the 'i'iwi and 'apapane and yellow feathers came from the 'ö'ö and mamo birds.
Feather work in ancient Hawai‘i was extremely labor intensive and required considerable craftsmanship and skill. The ‘ahu ‘ula of Kalani‘ōpu‘u has feathers from approximately 20,000 birds. Skilled bird catchers employed snaring and decoy birds to lure particular birds onto branches coated with a harmless natural adhesive. They would harvest only a feather or two from each bird before releasing them back into the wild.
Admission will be free on Saturday, March 19, 2016 for Hawai‘i residents and Military only with valid ID.
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