Coconut shell Kava Cup

This contemporary kava cup was purchased from Edmond Fehoko in 2017.

Fehoko acquired the cup from its maker, Troy Wihongi of Hamilton, New Zealand, while at a kava conference held at the University of Waikato.

Co-collecting

This object is part of a collection of taonga (collection objects) acquired as part of the 2017 co-collecting initiative ‘Pikipiki hama kae vaevae manava: joining our vaka to share our breath or life stories’. As part of the project, Te Papa Pacific Cultures staff worked alongside Edmond Fehoko to acquire taonga and offer unique insight into the landscape of kalapu kava Tonga in Tāmaki, Auckland.

This initiative focused on building Te Papa’s Tongan collection and inspired by the volunteer fieldworkers programme run by the Vanuatu Cultural Centre since the 1970s. Through this programme, fieldworkers are trained in an annual workshop before they set out into the ‘field’ to collect cultural material and document knowledge on a range of topics.

Fehoko collected a range of taonga to document kalapu kava Tonga as a constantly evolving practice.

Significance

This contemporary kava cup is significant as it is a sign of the evolving culture of kava-drinking. This metallic green kava cup is a contemporary version of the half coconut shell. This new style is attractive to younger generations who often use kava cups according to their personal style and taste. They also serve as a more durable option when travelling to and from kalapu kava Tonga.