Poncho

Bark Cloth

A white Hawaiian bark cloth poncho (kīpuka) made of the inner bark of a tree. The garment is long with a hole cut in the center for the head. The edges are trimmed with floral trade cloth. The surface decoration is red and blue parallelogram shapes. The designs were created with bamboo stamps (‘ohe kāpala).

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.

A kīpuka is a Hawaiian garment resembling a poncho, characterized by a rectangular or circular cloth with an opening for the head, allowing it to drape over the body.

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.