Born: Holualoa, Big Island of Hawai‘i
Hawaiian Lauhala Weaving - Master

"In those days we didn’t use much table. We sit on the floor and we share the food on the floor, on this special mat that’s been made for our table, and it was made of lauhala."

The leaf of the lauhala tree is one of the most important plants in the islands. Its satiny surface, golden color, and tough structure make it an ideal material for weaving beautiful yet sturdy objects. In ancient Hawai‘i, lauhala was used for fashioning mats, fans, and baskets. By the late 1800s, Hawaiian weavers had changed their methods to create hats based on Western shapes. Called papale, they became popular with everyone who needed shade from the sun - farmers, businessmen, and even cowboys (paniolo). During the early 1900s and through the 1950s, hat weaving was an important family business, especially in Kona. Because Kona had such excellent lauhala, and many beautiful shades of red, white and brown, weavers also created beautiful hats of two-toned patterns.