Hau curving branches to the ocean
by Lehua Pekelo-Stearns
Title
Hau curving branches to the ocean
Artist
Lehua Pekelo-Stearns
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Hibiscus tiliaceus is the scientific name of hau. The naturally curved branches of this plant's softwood are used to make canoe outriggers. The three parts are the niako, the two booms, and the float, ama. To get the proper shapes, the younger branches were sometimes trained into arches or shaped in an imu, underground oven. The bark was stripped from the branches which were then soaked for a few weeks in ocean water. This treatment would discourage insects and rot. Wiliwili or `ohi`a lehua were also used for the ama. These two woods are buoyant and lightweight as is hau, but they are stronger and better suited for larger canoes.
Traditionally, hau branches were piled near the shoreline to indicate fishing was kapu, because spawning was occurring in that area.
Uploaded
July 9th, 2021
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