Haʻa Ka Uluhala i Keaʻau (The Dancing Pandanus Groves in Keaʻau)
Kekaiokalani Naone
Have you ever presented someone with one of your handwoven kitchen towels, only to find that it’s never used, and instead hangs as artwork on the wall? Then you’ll relate to the transition of lauhala items - items woven from the leaves of the hala tree in Hawaiian culture:
Prior to Western contact, items made from lau hala—the leaves of the hala tree—were ubiquitous in everyday life. Floor mats, sleeping pads, baskets, cordage, and house thatching were all made from lau hala, and weaving was held as a point of pride as each family often had carefully guarded techniques. Over time, however, with the rapid decline of the Hawaiian population post-contact and imported materials becoming more commonly used, lau hala goods came to be seen as works of art meant to be treasured, not regularly used. (A Hawai‘i Island Practitioner Is Weaving New Legacies)
With a fresh take on a traditional practice, Kekai Naone has reintroduced functionality to ulana lau hala, weaving hats, purses, stools, water bottle sleeves, bowties(!), with every piece meant to be used daily.
“I think people forget that back in the day everyone had weavers in their family. It wasn’t only special people. It was very utilitarian. If you didn’t know a weaver, I don’t know how you’re going to sleep—no pillow, no mat—it’s going to be a pretty junk life. It’s just about seeing what you’re good at, what you’re pulled to, and just going with it.”
In this presentation, Kekai will talk about his path to this weaving and how it’s moving beyond just preservation of tradition but part of everyday life and contemporary work.
Kekaiokalani Naone is a Native Hawaiian artist and cultural practitioner dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of the land and ancestors through lauhala weaving. Rooted in Hawaiian traditions, his work emphasizes the deep connection between people and place, using the art of weaving to honor history and inspire stewardship. Each creation serves as a reminder that the well-being of the natural world is inseparable from our collective prosperity. Through the interlacing of hala leaves, he strives to foster meaningful relationships between people and their environment, ensuring that these ancestral practices continue to thrive for future generations. www.firstnations.org/gallery/kekaiokalani-naone
