A crew of 22 created and assembled two feather kahili during the weekend of October 29th to November 2 with Paulette Kahalepuna at a workshop held at Kalaekilohana B&B. The team included residents from O’ahu, Maui, and Hawai’i Island. Participants were couples whose partners did woodwork for the stands and poles that the kahili were attached and lashed to. Other team members included National Park Service personnel from Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park and Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical.
the crew poses with the finished kahili
Kahili are standards of the ali’i. They accompanied the chief and reminded his people of his presence. They would be seen at gatherings, processions, ceremonies, funerals and while he was at state functions. They would be made a variety of sizes, with their heights anywhere from 12 to 20 plus feet. The poles were made as simple or ornate according to ones tastes, and the feathers for their hulumanu or cylindrical feathered tops often included the tail feathers of sea birds, like the koa’e ‘ula (red-tailed tropic bird), the ‘iwa (frigate bird), and the ka’upu (laysan albatross).
The pair of kahili made at this workshop were made using Canadian geese feathers. Groups gathered to bundle goose feathers in fives using floral picks in preparation for them to be joined into ‘au (branches). These branches were then inserted by rows onto the prepared posts and lashed onto it.
The goal of the kahili workshop was to learn the process from start to finish. It was also the intention of Paulette Kahalepuna, the kumu (teacher), to donate the pair of kahili to Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park. Paulette has family in the Honaunau area where the part is located and having the kahili hanau (born) in Ka’u and then hanai (adopted, fed, raised) by the National Park Service was an honor for her and respectfully and graciously accepted by Pu’uhonua o Honaunau. These kahili were given names by the Park Service personnel after a brief and emotional ceremony of chant and words of gratitude, honor, and pride.
Aunty Paulette Kahalepuna
November 1, 2009 these two kahili joined family at Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park. It coincidentally happened to be the 20th anniversary of Na Lima Hulu No’eau, the feather shop in Honolulu that Aunty Mary Lou and Uncle Paul Kekuewa started.
The 'twins" arrival at Pu'uhonua o Honaunau
These “twins” arrived and their umbilical cords were severed on arrival. They were offered, honored, and received and then named. Please meet Kaleonahenahe and Kalakoho.