Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:30 — 38.8MB) | Embed
After a period of colonial suppression, traditional kapa making is enjoying a sustained resurgence. In recent decades, a growing number of Native Hawaiian artists have mastered the labor-intensive process of harvesting, scraping, and soaking the bark of the wauke plant and embellishing the resulting fabric with colorful traditional designs. A new generation of artists is benefiting from this reclaimed expertise.
This is an encore show so we won’t be taking listener phone calls
Dalani Tanahy (Native Hawaiian), Hawaiian kapa artist
Lehuauakea (Native Hawaiian), Hawaiian kapa artist
Roen Hufford (Native Hawaiian), Hawaiian kapa artist
Here’s an extended interview with 2023 National Heritage Fellow Roen Hufford (Native Hawaiian). She spoke with producer Sol Traverso about her favorite part of the kapa making process and being taught by her mother Marie Leilehua McDonald.
Break 1 Music: Wahine U`i (Beautiful One) (song) Linda Dela Cruz (artist) Linda Dela Cruz Hawaii’s Canary (album)
Break 2 Music: Grandmother’s Song (song) Fawn Wood (artist) Iskwewak (album)
How beautiful! I would love to hear the story behind each piece. Thank you for continuing this very special art form.
Please dont invest in AI. the data centers are incredibly destructive in the power they require. No matter if gas, solar, etc…still millions of watts. the AI itself is suspect, prone to manipulation by agencies that do not have environmental or native interests in mind. remember the promises of trinkets and beads? this is exactly the same. Poison!