Our Primary Purpose is Helping people learn more about the differences between the many types of Polynesian bark cloth collectively known as ‘tapa’ with a special emphasis on the tapa or ‘kapa’ made in the Hawaiian Islands(Hawaiian Bark Cloth or Hawaiian Kapa). If you want to learn more about the Native Hawaiian Art of making the Hawaiian Kapa, visit the Kapa Making Processing Page, where you will find step by step information on how ancient Hawaiians and Hawaiian Artists make the Hawaiian Bark Cloth.
Kapa Hawaii is pleased to announce that Dalani has kapa for show and sale in two local galleries. She has two large framed kapa at these two locations. Please support…
The demigod Maui is said to have engaged in various kite-flying adventures, and petroglyphs on the Big Island document a lupe manu—literally a “bird kite,” with wings on each side
Kapa and Hula Artistic Collaboration
Halau O Kekuhi to Wear All Hawaiian Kapa Made By Modern Practitioners for 2011 Merrie Monarch Ho`ike, Click here to learn…
Our blog is here! Dalani Tanahy's Blog is finally here replacing our Hawaiian Art Forum. Now you can read more frequent articles, blog posts and user comments.
In December 2009, Hawaii got a taste of its first big winter surf...a very anticipated season for surfers and those who love to watch the power and beauty of the ocean when it is truly alive. The ancient Hawaiians anticipated this time as well, as it meant the time of Makahiki, when all battles were put aside, and peace reigned in the islands...
Daughters of Hawai‘i Host “Day at Queen Emma Summer Palace”
Sunday, 27 September 2009 11:04
HONOLULU, HI—The Daughters of Hawai‘i will be hosting the 33rd annual Day at Queen Emma Summer Palace on Saturday, October 3rd from 9:00-5:00.
Come and join the Daughters at the historic summer home—Hānaiakamalama—of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma. Located in beautiful Nu'uanu Valley, Hānaiakamalama was rescued by the Daughters of Hawai'i in 1915 and through their preservation efforts it is today restored to its former splendor and is the setting for their annual festival.
Here you will enjoy delicious local food, a beer & wine garden, crafts, haku lei, native Hawaiian plants, and delicious baked goods. Seafood and local dining specialties will be provided by Chef Elmer Guzman of Poke Stop.
From Hana Hou Magazine "Hawaiian Airline Magazine"
The Beat Goes On
story by Roland Gilmore
photos by Dana Edmunds
A warm wind is blowing on O‘ahu’s leeward coast: down from Mount Ka‘ala, through Makaha Valley and then out to sea. Not a strong wind, just enough to rustle the leaves of Dalani Tanahy’s wauke patch. Left untended, these paper mulberry plants will would grow like weeds, sending runners underground and shooting up new plants where you’d least expect them. But that sort of unfettered growth does nothing to suit Dalani’s purposes, and so her carefully managed crop of roughly 200 plants grows as uniformly as a field of corn, each eight-foot-high row separated by a mulch-covered walkway; branches regularly pruned at the trunk to create a smooth, unscarred bark; the whole works irrigated by drip-lines.
Martin & MacArthur Donates Percentage of Profits to Community Organizations
Wednesday, 05 August 2009 17:38
HONOLULU, HAWAII – Martin & MacArthur, Hawaii’s leading purveyor of fine koa furnishings, will be opening its flagship store at Ward Center and donating a percentage of the profits to two important community organizations, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) and the Palama Settlement. The Grand Opening Event will take place on Saturday, August 8th at their new store on the corner of Kamakee and Auahi street, adjacent to Kakaako Kitchen at Ward Center.
"We are so humbled by the generosity of the team at Martin & MacArthur," said Robin Puanani Danner, CNHA President and CEO. "To have a company join the neighborhood and extend a giving hand in these tough economic times is a sure way to make good neighbors and long lasting impressions in the community. We welcome Martin & MacArthur and offer many Mahalos!"
The newest Martin & MacArthur store will feature newly designed koa furniture inspired by actual pieces owned by Hawaiian monarchs, feather kahilis and leis made in the tradition of old Hawaii, Hawaiian kapa cloth by renowned artisan Dalani Tanahy, Hawaiian weapons by several local craftsmen, and the widest assortment of koa jewelry boxes, koa bowls, and koa platters, in addition to other home accessories made by local Hawaiian craftsmen and women.
I had wanted to learn kapa making for a long time. I saw Herb Kane 's painting of Pua Van Dorpe and figured, she must be the one who knows about this but had no idea how to contact her so I just let it simmer. In about 1995 I went to one of Kawai Aona-Ueoka 's kapa tool-making classes. I made my first hohoa and i'e kuku . I also got my first wauke babies from her which I planted in my yard. Later that year I attended a kapa introduction workshop by Alyce Ikeoka at the Ka'ala Learning Center and was introduced to some really..... fragrant..... mo'omo'o . In 1996 my plants had matured, and while doing the restoration work at Kane'aki Heiau in Makaha Valley, I was able to process my trees and soak them in the raging river that passed by the heiau. I remembered I suffered much with this kapa, having no real clue what I was doing. I went back and read Bingham , and Kamakau , and Kooijima n one more time, called Maile Andrade for some over-the-phone kapa solutions and could swear I heard the laughter of na kupuna ...laughing WITH me of course..not at me...sure sure. In the end I called a truce and was able to make a pretty good piece of kapa, dyed it orange with achiote and gave it to one of my very good friends, Landis Ornellas .
DALANI TANAHY