Born: Napo‘opo‘o, Big Island of Hawai‘i
Hawaiian Puppetry (Hula Ki‘i) - Master
Auntie Nona: There are several forms...our ki‘i was the coconut head. My great grandmother used to do what we thought was a very comical one...
Mauli‘ola Cook: Auntie shared with me ...the stories with their good intentions, their morals, and their sweet songs, and their hulas and their funny and their scary characters."

Hula ki‘i puppets are made from naturally available materials such as coconuts for heads and costumes made from cloth, kapa, and lauhala. They are used as a method of storytelling in the hands of a skillful puppeteer or storyteller. They can create a world in which legends of Hawai‘i live on and are retold. The puppets take on personality as they come to life through the magic of imagination. There has been a revival of hula ki‘i, and there are now many programs in which you can construct your very own. The construction of hula ki‘i involves gathering the materials, making the puppets and performing lively and enjoyable puppet shows.