Clothing

A long, rectangular kapa (Hawaiian bark cloth) made of wauke (paper mulberry). The kapa is made of five separate layers sewn together along one side. The surface decoration consists of thin lines in black and red. The line designs were created with the use of a bamboo kapa liner (lapa).

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.

According to a note on the original catalogue card the kapa is, "Bau (pāʻū). Worn by the females of Kivi [atooy] Akovai, Sandwich Islands."