Bark Cloth

A rectangular fragment of bark cloth (kapa), made of the inner bark of a tree. The bark cloth is light in color with black and red surface decoration. The designs were created with bamboo kapa liners (lapa). The black line decoration was applied with a four-pronged liner. The red decoration was applied with a single-line wood liner.

Kapa cloth is produced from the inner bark of a tree, typically wauke (paper mulberry), which is cultivated, harvested, and processed through soaking, scraping, fermenting, and repeated beating to form and refine the cloth. Patterned beaters may be used during production to create watermarks that can reflect regional styles or maker affiliations. After drying, the cloth is decorated using natural dyes and bamboo implements.

Finished kapa was utilized in various ways, most prominently as clothing items. This includes pāʻū (skirts) for women and malo (loincloth) for men. Kapa was also used as kapa moe (bedding), and for presenting to family members, friends, and individuals of higher social rank.