The feathered cloak and helmet that were given to Capt. James Cook on Hawaii island in 1779 landed in their new Bishop Museum home Thursday as the Native Hawaiian community welcomed the artifacts in a formal ceremony.

The delicate yet remarkably preserved items that represent a milestone in the modern history of the islands — Western contact — were also secured into their new space within Hawaiian Hall.

The ahuula (feathered cloak) and mahiole (feathered helmet) will go on display Saturday with free admission to Hawaii residents and military with ID.

Also on Saturday a formal celebration will be held at 9:30 a.m. with remarks from officials of the Bishop Museum, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and New Zealand’s Te Papa Tongarewa museum, from which the items are on long-term loan with the likelihood of being permanent.

A 1:30 p.m. lecture will feature Jerome Feldman, Hawaii Pacific University art history professor, who will discuss the feather attire worn by the warrior chiefs of pre-contact Hawaii.

Blair Collis, president and CEO of Bishop Museum, said the exhibit, titled “He Nae Akea: Bound Together,” is the culmination of about a year and a half of negotiation among the Bishop Museum, Te Papa Tongarewa and OHA.

“It’s about as big as it gets,” Collis said of the new display. “In the museum world you rarely get to have long-term loans and even rarer to contemplate the idea of having them gifted, and that’s exactly what’s happening here.”

Marques Marzan, Bishop Museum cultural resource specialist, expressed excitement for the return of the spectacular red-and-yellow cloak, made from the feathers of an estimated 20,000 birds. The red feathers are from the iiwi, or scarlet Hawaiian honeycreeper, the yellow feathers from the oo, now extinct.

“It’s something generations have been waiting for, and it’s mind-boggling that it’s happening right now,” Marzan said.

Collis said it was a “no-brainer” to allow anyone who lives in Hawaii to see the treasures Saturday whether they can afford the admission or not.

“We would gladly take a hit in the pocketbook,” he said. “It’s part of our mission.”

After accepting the gifts from Kalaniopuu, the ruling chief of Hawaii island, Cook left the island but returned a month or so later to repair storm damage to his ship. Things didn’t quite go as well for the English captain this time, and a violent clash resulted in his death.

The cape and helmet remained on the ship, however, and they traveled to England, where they were held by a number of museum owners and collectors. They eventually were acquired by Lord St. Oswald, who in 1912 gave his entire collection to the Dominion Museum in New Zealand, the predecessor of Te Papa Tongarewa.

Over the years the cloak has traveled to Hawaii twice without the helmet: in 1960 during an exhibition and during another show in 1978. But this is the first time that both the cloak and helmet are back home in Hawaii together.

Kamana‘opono Crabbe, CEO of OHA, said he was honored to travel to New Zealand last week and bring back the treasures to Hawaii.

Thursday’s ceremony included some of Hawaii’s top chanters, orators and hula troupes, which performed traditional dances that date back hundreds of years.

“It demonstrated that the legacy of our ancestors continues to thrive and persevere,” he said.

Crabbe said Kalaniopuu doesn’t get enough credit for his role in shaping Kamehameha, the chief who would conquer and unite the islands.

“A lot of people say (Kalaniopuu is) noted for bestowing these royal garments to Capt. Cook. What a lot of people don’t know is that he is the brother of Kamehameha’s father. Kalaniopuu raised Kamehameha in his court. He was there on Capt. Cook’s ship. In Capt. Cook’s journals,he recognized not only the chief, but a fierce warrior, Kamehameha,” he said.

”We are so honored that his mana, his inspiration, his encouragement returns to us. It inspires us to move forward,” Crabbe said. “These (artifacts) are cultural icons that will continue to unite our people.”

OHA trustee Dan Ahuna of Kauai said the journey from England to New Zealand to Hawaii completes a symbolic circle.

“I don’t think this is a coincidence that these treasures have returned home during this time,” he said, referring to recent efforts to re-establish a Native Hawaiian nation. “I believe these treasures are a symbol that represented a time when our people had autonomy and control of these islands.”