Story of Hawaiian Kapa Making, June 10, 2011

By Wendy Osher

Kumu Hokulani Holt. File photo by Wendy Osher.

The Story of Hawaiian Kapa Making travels to the Bailey House Museum with an original production on the legend of Hina and Maui.  The presentation of hula and chant was written by Maui kumu hula Hōkūlani Holt, and is part of the festivities being held in honor of Kamehameha Day on Friday, June 10, 2011.

Hina & Maui: Ka Mo’olelo no ke Kapa o Hawai’i Nei tells the story in Hawaiian tradition of how the sun was slowed, allowing time for the kapa to be beaten and dried.

The event was created by Big Island kapa artist, Wesley Sen, who will fashion one-of-a-kind clothing made of traditional kapa for the production.  Sen and Holt, were among the cultural practitioners that joined kapa artisan Pua Van Dorpe in hosting a kapa-making workshop and exhibit at the same museum in 1987, at a time when the art was first being revived.

As part of the festivities, Kumu Wesley Sen will give a presentation on Hawaiian kapa-making.  There will also be antique kapa from the Maui Historical Society collection on display.

The event takes place at 5 p.m., Friday June 10th at the Bailey House Museum.  Refreshments will be provided by catering from Soup to Nuts.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Maui Historical Society.  Tickets are $50 for the general public, and $45 for members of the Maui Historical Society.  Seating is limited to 100 people, and attendees must be 21 or older.

Wesley Sen will also be hosting dye making and kapa decorating workshops at the Bailey House Museum on Friday June 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday June 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The cost for both workshops is $30.

For more information on these events and to purchase tickets, please contact the Maui Historical Society at 244-3326.

The Maui Historical Society was founded in 1951 and is the oldest historical and preservation society on Maui. Its mission is to collect, preserve, study, interpret and share the history, and heritage of Maui.