Versatile, durable kauila was used in place of metal

By Duane Choy

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 12, 2012

~~<p>Battered by the ravages of time, weather and human negligence, feathered relics are easily ruined or lost. But cultural artifacts made from stone, wood, bone, cordage and even fabric are able to maintain their integrity through their inherent composition.</p>
<p>I've always been mesmerized by the artistic feather work of the kahili (royal standards) housed in Bishop Museum. Recently, I focused on the elegant and dynamic mana (power) of the wood that was sculpted for a particularly regal kahili pole. It was our endemic kauila.</p>
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Battered by the ravages of time, weather and human negligence, feathered relics are easily ruined or lost. But cultural artifacts made from stone, wood, bone, cordage and even fabric are able to maintain their integrity through their inherent composition.

I've always been mesmerized by the artistic feather work of the kahili (royal standards) housed in Bishop Museum. Recently, I focused on the elegant and dynamic mana (power) of the wood that was sculpted for a particularly regal kahili pole. It was our endemic kauila. Login for more...