Poi Container

A round ipu pawehe (decorated gourd). The top is cut to form a wide mouth. The gourd is decorated with a vertical panel of wavy lines and bands of cross-hatching. The original cataloguing indicated that this ipu pawehe was used suspended from a pole to transport the poi of a nobleman.

To create gourd vessels, gourds were carefully prepared through controlled decay to remove the pulp, leaving a durable shell pierced only at the stem and smoothed inside with coral or pumice. These vessels were fashioned into functional forms such as water bottles, funnels, and strainers, often fitted with nets or cords for suspension and transport. Among the aliʻi (nobility), gourds also became highly refined artistic objects, particularly in the form of ipu pawehe. The creation of ipu pawehe involved intricate resist-dye techniques in which water-resistant substances were applied to preserve lighter areas, while exposed sections were incised with geometric designs and darkened using plant-based dyes, iron compounds, or immersion in taro pond mud. Baking fixed the pigmentation, producing durable black or brown patterns that contrasted with the natural yellow surface.