The Hawaiian culture is filled with many traditions that have been passed down to generations over hundreds of years. With an extraordinary array of natural materials found in the Islands, ancient artisans were gifted craftspeople. Today, there are still many who keep the Islands’ rich heritage alive for everyone to continue to enjoy.
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Ancient Hawaiian royalty, including King Kamehameha I, often wore capes, headdresses and other garments made of beautiful bird feathers, as a sign of their status. Featherworking is nearly a lost art, but some artisans still carry on the tradition and some rare items may be seen in museums and other locations.
Perhaps the most important of ancient Hawaiian crafts is called featherwork, which held great social and spiritual significance. Rare feathers were used to create capes, headdresses, leis, and hair ornaments to honor the alii or royalty or other nobility. Skilled featherworkers have fashioned their craft into a high art form over the millennia.
When Hawaii was “discovered” by Westerners in the 19th Century, featherwork began to decline. Today, few people carry on the tradition, but these artistic works can still be found in island museums and other locations.
Lei making is another of the crafts practiced in ancient Hawaii. The natives wore leis on their wrists, ankles, and necks as displays of affection and esteem. Over the centuries, leis have been made out of many materials. Those made of feathers, whale’s teeth, nuts, and seeds are rarely seen today, except, perhaps, in museums. The more common flower leis are found everywhere to greet or say farewell to visitors, family, friends, and others.
Of course, the flower lei has become synonymous with Hawaiian hospitality, using different types of flora. Most visitors are familiar with the fragrant plumeria blossom, but each Island has its own official flower or plant, except Niihau. The people of Niihau make their leis out of sea shells. Some are very elaborate and, often expensive, using perfectly matched shells.
Before contact with the Western world, Hawaiians also made all of their cloth called kapa from the mulberry tree’s bark. They pounded the bark until soft and dyed the material in a variety of colors and patterns, unique to Hawaii.
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Modern Hawaiian quilt makers continue the tradition, using vibrant colors, patterns depicting nature or personal histories, and unique symmetrical designs. Some quilts are actual works of art displayed on walls in homes, resorts, and other places to showcase their beauty.
You’ll find crafts everywhere throughout the Islands. Woven baskets, glasswork, pottery, quilts, jewelry, sculpture, paintings, woodworking, and much more can be found in boutiques, art galleries, museums, gift shops, and cultural festivals—all terrific remembrances of your visit to this cultural paradise with a rich history of craftsmanship.
