Paintings by Joel
| July 16, 2007 |
Information Regarding Kapa (Tapa) Cloth
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Kapa (traditional Hawaiian bark cloth) is made from wauke, the paper
mulberry plant, by a time-consuming, labor-intensive method. Hawaiian kapa
had many useful functions in everyday life in early Hawaii.
The process of making kapa begins with the cultivation of wauke, which has
been grown straight and tall for twelve months. Mature stalks are cut close
to the ground when they are about one to two inches in diameter. The brown
and green layers of the stalk are scraped away, revealing a fine white layer
called the "bast." After the bast is soaked for up to ten days, then beaten
with a mallet, it is placed in ti or banana leaves in a warm, shady spot to
ferment. This fermentation stage is essential to the quality and texture of the
finished cloth. The fiber pieces are then beaten, shaped, and stretched for
many more hours before it is ready for the final stage in the process. In the
final stage a fragrance is added to the fiber in order to mask the odor of
fermentation. Wood chips, blossoms, or other plant materials are used for
this process.
Because of the time and effort required in its making, kapa was quickly
replaced in modern Hawaii with new durable, easily manufactured fabrics.
Today, this material can only be seen worn during special ceremonies or on
special occasions. The making of Hawaiian Kapa is quickly becoming a lost
art. Kapa or Tapa (often made in Tonga) can be quite difficult and
expensive to acquire.
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