Kapa

Kapa

Kapa is a fabric found in ancient Hawaiokinai made of beaten mulberry bark, or "wauke". It is similar to tapa found elsewhere in Polynesia but differs in the methods used in its creation. (The Hawaiian 'k' phoneme corresponds to Polynesian 't'). Kapa was used primarily for clothing like the "malo" worn by men as a loincloth and the "pāokinaū" worn by women as a wraparound. Kapa was also used for "kīhei" used over the shoulders. Other uses for kapa depended on caste and a person's place in ancient Hawaiian society. Kapa bed covers were reserved for the aliokinai or chiefly caste while kapa robes were used by "kāhuna" or priestly caste.

Cultural anthropologists over the course of the twentieth century identified techniques in the creation of kapa that was unique to the Hawaiian Islands. The paper mulberry tree was cut and soaked in water then laid on a polished stone tablet called a "kua kūkū" and beaten by a "hōhoa", a rounded beater. After the first phase of beating, the kapa was transferred to a sacred house to be beaten a second time but in a religious manner. Each kapa manufacturer used a beater called an "okinaiokinae kūkū", a beater with four flat sides that were each carved differently. The carvings left an impression in the cloth that was hers alone. After the European discovery of the Hawaiian Islands, Western traders travelled to Hawaiokinai especially for kapa.


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References

* Brigham, William Tufts, “Ka hana kapa, making of bark-cloth in Hawaii”, Honolulu, Bishop Museum Press, 1911.

External links

* [http://www.nma.gov.au/cook/places.php?place=Hawaii Cook-Foster Collection at Georg-August University in Göttingen, Germany]
* [http://starbulletin.com/1999/06/07/features/story1.html Kapa Connection]
* [http://www.kapahawaii.com/KapaProcessing.htm Hawaiian Kapa Making]
* [http://www.kapahawaii.com/History.htm Hawaiian Kapa History]
* [http://www.hawaiianartplaza.com/Contemporary_Hawaiian_Kapa_s/38.htm Contemporary Hawaiian Kapa]
* [http://www.nokaoimagazine.com/Features/v.12n.1/Kapa.html "Kapa: Fabric of a Culture"] Article about the art of kapa making and kapa master Pua Van Dorpe by Rita Goldman. "Maui No Ka 'Oi Magazine" Vol.12, No.1 (January 2008)
* [http://www.nokaoimagazine.com/Top/web-exclusive_content/eleven_kapa.html "Kapa: More to Learn"] Pua Van Dorpe's kapa collection honoring 11 Maui chiefs. "Maui No Ka 'Oi Magazine" Vol.12, No.1 (January 2008)


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  • KAPA — statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Trimetilendiamino kalio druska. formulė H₂N(CH₂)₃NHK atitikmenys: angl. KAPA rus. КАПА …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

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  • KAPA — Infobox Radio station name = KAPA city = Hilo, Hawaii area = Hilo branding = slogan = airdate = 1987 11 06 (as KIPA FM) frequency = 100.3 MHz format = Adult Contemporary power = erp = 35,000 watts haat = 78.0 meters class = C2 facility id = 5254… …   Wikipedia

  • kapa — 1 kapà (plg. la. kapa, l. kopa) sf. (4, 2) 1. SPII52, SD104, R, N, K, M, Tvr 60 vienetų: Kiaušių kapà, pusė kapõs KII166. Silkių kapà Erž. 10 kãpų J.Jabl. Trys kãpos rugių Dkš. Tegul suverpia kapą tolkų BsPIV243. Kapà kiaušinių OG279.… …   Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language

  • kapa — 2 kapà (l. kapa) sf. (2, 4) 1. lovatiesė: Nupirkau dvi kapàs – dabar gražiau galės lovas apdengt Ant. Nuimk nuo lovos kãpą Grk. Ji išaudė tokią gražią kapą, kad gali vežt į parodą Krč. Gaspadinė užsitaisė darbų čėse kapą plonos drobės aust… …   Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language

  • kapa — kȁpa2 ž <G mn kȃpā> DEFINICIJA 1. pokrivalo za glavu bez oboda (sa štitnikom za oči ili uši i bez njega) [nositi kapu; staviti kapu; skinuti kapu] 2. pren. ono što pokriva, vrh čega [kapa motora; kapa dopuštene potrošnje] 3. term. gornja… …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • kapa — ż IV, CMs. kapapie; lm D. kap 1. «narzuta, nakrycie na łóżko, tapczan itp.» Gładka, wzorzysta kapa. Koronkowa, pluszowa kapa. Przykryć, zasłać łóżko kapą. 2. «rodzaj derki na konia, bogato przybranej; przykrycie wierzchnie konia» 3. «czerwona… …   Słownik języka polskiego

  • kapa — Tapa Ta pa, n. A kind of cloth prepared by the Polynesians from the inner bark of the paper mulberry; sometimes called also {kapa}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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