This kapa pays homage to the past practices of Hawaiian kapa makers and the diversity of their creative pattern work. Through a lifetime of study and viewing kapa held in museums and private collections Dalani reflects on the variety of painting techniques, stamps, dyes, and various materials that were used.

"When we talk about the past works that our kūpuna did it just blows my mind because it's so random. Its lines, things and endless stamps and triangles. I like to replicate some of those designs just to show people because now we see the stamps all the time the 'ohe kapala, so that's what people think the Hawaiian kapa is. But the Hawaiian kapa was really a big big range of design."

Dalani Tanahy, 2023

Background

In 2021, with the Te Papa Foundation’s support, Te Papa acquired a rare book of tapa cloth samples, one of many assembled by Alexander Shaw in 1787. The samples were cut from larger pieces of tapa collected on Captain Cook’s voyages to the Pacific (1768, 1772, 1776) and represent tapa-making practices from various islands including Hawai‘i, Tahiti and Tonga. While the books contain only fragments of much larger creations, they highlight the variety of textures and artistry attained through the practices, knowledge, and skills of Pacific peoples.

Held in Tahiti in 2023, 'Ahu: Ngā Wairua o Hina brought tapa makers of Tongan, Sāmoan, Niuean, Fijian, Hawaiian, Tahitian, Pitcairn-Norfolk Island, and Māori descent. Over five days this group worked together to re-establish their living relationships to the cloth held within the Alexander Shaw book. Through a process of wānanga this group of makers created two tapa bundles, incorporating the ideas of past, present, and future. Today, one of the bundles resides with Te Papa and the other with Te Fare Iamanaha-Musée de Tahiti et des Îles.