Hawaiian Moment: Makaʻala ke kanaka kahea manu – A man who calls birds should always be alert

One who wishes to succeed should be alert to every opportunity, like one who catches birds by imitating their cries.

ʻAhuʻula (Hawaiian feather capes) are such amazing works of art that show the modern generation what the ancestors of this culture used to adorn themselves with. These capes were made for those of higher ranking in Hawaiian society, and usually associated with the aliʻi (chief) class; considered “Gods who walked among men.”

It was believed that the longer the capes were, those would be for the higher ranking aliʻi since they used feathers from more birds, required more skill and were more highly valued. The capes were considered an ahu (altar) on the shoulders of the sacred aliʻi.

The capes are special items and to make one required much skill and effort. In making the capes, certain colors and patterns went into designing them, each meaning something different.

Red and yellow were typically the colors that represented higher status, thus, when the capes were made, red was often the color used. The red feathers were carefully plucked from ʻiʻiwi birds. 

Yellow feathers were less common than the red, because birds in Hawaiʻi were not usually yellow. Those making the capes sought feathers from the now extinct mamo and ʻōʻō birds. These birds were not yellow, but black, they had yellow feathers in a few specific spots (under the tail and/or wing; at the cut off of the birds’ leg). Because yellow feathers were so treasured and rare, cloaks and capes in yellow were highly regarded. Kamehameha’s cape was said to have been made from only yellow feathers.

Gathering materials to create the cloak, feathers were obtained by the kia manu (bird catchers). The famously skilled kia manu were named after the tool used to catch birds in the forest canopy. The kia manu pole was hung high up in the canopy branches with a decoy or bait and sticky paste at its tips. The bird catchers knew all about the birds, their rest areas, bird calls and molting periods. After removing only a few feathers, the bird was set free. This allowed the birds to produce feathers in the future.

The feathers were a tribute during the time of the makahiki, they were collected and presented as gifts to the chiefs. Hundreds and thousands of feathers were needed to make only one cloak.

The beautiful capes and cloaks were made with care and were symbols of power and social standing in Hawaiian society.