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''Lauhala'', ''lau'' meaning "leaf" in the
The hala tree is of great cultural, health and economic importance in many Pacific Islands. The fruit of the tree is used as a food source in many Pacific Islands. The fruits are often consumed fresh or as a preserved food while the trunks of ''P. tectorius'' can be used as building material, and leaves for
Many Pacific cultures weave, plait, or braid the leaves of the ''P. tectorius'' to create useful items such as baskets, mats and hats. Though it is a long and arduous process to prepare the leaves for weaving, the final products are works of art with a pleasing earthy feel.
Remains of ''lauhala'' from burial caves in Hawaii show almost the same patterns as more recent woven objects, therefore the tradition of this craft seems to be very old. The district of Puna on the Island of Hawaiʻi was known for the abundance of ''hala''.
During the
The favored lauhala for weaving was called "lauhala kilipaki". The leaves of this ''Pandanus sp.'' were exceptionally soft and durable. They were highly prized for their beauty in color and the ease with which they could be plaited. Special sleeping mats were created out of the "Hīnano", male flower, of the hala tree. The light colored bracts were very soft and pliable and made very finely woven mats reserved for the chiefs (''moena hīnano or ''ʻahu hīnano''). They were especially prized because of their scarcity. Male plants are much less common in the wild than female, and they only make a few flowers per season. The
A woman weaving lauhala
in 1980 from the
Hawaiian language
Hawaiian (', ) is a Polynesian language of the Austronesian language family that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language ...
, refers to the leaves of the hala tree ''(Pandanus tectorius
''Pandanus tectorius'' is a species of ''Pandanus'' (screwpine) that is native to Malesia, Papuasia, eastern Australia, and the Pacific Islands. It grows in the coastal lowlands typically near the edge of the ocean. Common names in English incl ...
)''.
Uses
The hala tree is of great cultural, health and economic importance in many Pacific Islands. The fruit of the tree is used as a food source in many Pacific Islands. The fruits are often consumed fresh or as a preserved food while the trunks of ''P. tectorius'' can be used as building material, and leaves for thatching
Thatching is the craft of building a roof with dry vegetation such as straw, water reed, sedge (''Cladium mariscus''), rushes, heather, or palm branches, layering the vegetation so as to shed water away from the inner roof. Since the bulk of ...
. Though many parts of the hala tree are utilized, in Hawaii the most common use of Hala is the leaves.
Hawaiians distinguish five kinds of the hala tree according to the colour and size of the fruits:.
* ''hala ula'' (orange red)
* ''hala lihilihi ula'' (red tip, becoming yellow to the centre)
* ''hala īkoi'' (bright orange only at the tip)
* ''hala melemele'' (yellow)
* ''hala pia'' (not quite white, small fruit)
Weaving
Many Pacific cultures weave, plait, or braid the leaves of the ''P. tectorius'' to create useful items such as baskets, mats and hats. Though it is a long and arduous process to prepare the leaves for weaving, the final products are works of art with a pleasing earthy feel.
Remains of ''lauhala'' from burial caves in Hawaii show almost the same patterns as more recent woven objects, therefore the tradition of this craft seems to be very old. The district of Puna on the Island of Hawaiʻi was known for the abundance of ''hala''.
During the Hawaiian Renaissance
The Hawaiian Renaissance (also called the Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance) was the Hawaiian resurgence of a distinct cultural identity that draws upon traditional kānaka maoli culture, with a significant divergence from the tourism-based culture ...
the lauhala weaving became popular again, and nowadays also non traditional items.
Types of Lauhala
The favored lauhala for weaving was called "lauhala kilipaki". The leaves of this ''Pandanus sp.'' were exceptionally soft and durable. They were highly prized for their beauty in color and the ease with which they could be plaited. Special sleeping mats were created out of the "Hīnano", male flower, of the hala tree. The light colored bracts were very soft and pliable and made very finely woven mats reserved for the chiefs (''moena hīnano or ''ʻahu hīnano''). They were especially prized because of their scarcity. Male plants are much less common in the wild than female, and they only make a few flowers per season. The bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or o ...
s are also very short, about long and wide, with only about two thirds of the bract actually usable for weaving.
References
Further reading
* *External links
{{Commons category-multi, Pandanus tectorius, Lauhala weavingA woman weaving lauhala
in 1980 from the
World Digital Library
The World Digital Library (WDL) is an international digital library operated by UNESCO and the United States Library of Congress.
The WDL has stated that its mission is to promote international and intercultural understanding, expand the volume ...
.
Textile arts of Hawaii