Greeting to the readers of this newspaper column. In the last issue, we looked at the ingenuity and creativity of the ancestors in their work with ʻieʻie except for the mahiole (helmet). Therefore, here we are examining the helmet. Amongst the Polynesians, the Hawaiians were the only ones to fashion helmets, a head covering and a symbol of royalty.
The body of the helmet was formed on head with the rootlets of the ʻieʻie (Freycinetia arborea), a plant of the forest. There were several forms of mahiole: 1) helmets with low crests; 2) helmets with high crests; 3) Helmets with high crests and posts; 4) helmets of hair; and 5) Helmets with mushroom like knobs in place of the crest – these were not feathered.
There were two methods of feathering the mahiole. The more prevalent way was the tying of feather bundles to a netting. Then the feathered netting was sewn unto the body of the helmet. The other method was previously unknown to me, namely, the tying on of feather bundles to one side of a thick cord like coconut sennit a then having it sewn to the helmet (see the picture of a Kauaʻi helmet). The skill and deep knowledge of our ancestors was wondrous indeed.
As I explained in the last issue, there are two instructors teaching twining with ʻieʻie. They are Kumulāʻau and Haunani Sing. They are teaching the various forms of mahiole. If interested in their work, go to kekumuhawaii.com.
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