Malo Kāpala Laʻau

NOTE: Due to the fragile nature of this piece, it will not be displayed in the Art Gallery. It is available for purchase exclusively online. If you would like to arrange a viewing or purchase, please send an inquiry to the Art Gallery staff via this website.  The design for this malo (loincloth) is based on one in the Bishop Museum collection that dates from the early 1800ʻs. The style of kapa making, called wailiʻiliʻi, is used for wearable kapa and the wauke nui is not retted. The body of this malo is stamped with a carved wooden stamp called a kāpala laʻau. These stamps are fairly rare. The border design is stamped with the more common carved bamboo strip call ʻohe kāpala. Keywords: kapa, stamped, Hawaii, Hawaiiana

Materials: Wauke Nui (paper mulberry) beaten in the wailiʻiliʻi style. Dyes: Noni red (Morinda citrifolia) and ʻōlena yellow (Curcuma longa), paʻu (black kukui ink)