Honolulu Record, August 19, 1948, vol. 1 no. 3, p. 5
Patience, Time Required
By Betty Eshelman
Lauhala weaving is one of the important small industries of Kona. Driving through the district one sees the work in all stages, but even then one does not realize the vast amount of work involved. The principles of weaving are very simple and once the lauhala is prepared, an article can be finished very quickly. However much time and labor go into that preparation.
Step by Step
First, dry leaves are picked preferably those that are newly dried. Then the tips must be taken off both ends. Spines are removed, next, which is a tedious job resulting in sore fingers, especially for the beginner. The lauhala is then wiped clean of any dirt and rolled with the outer side in. In storing away the lauhala, these are rerolled in packs of 50 or more, depending on the length of the leaves. Then comes stripping which is removing the center ribs. The strip ped leaves are then softened with a dull knife and then cut into the desired width and tied into bundles for use. For this latter part of stripping an instrument has been devisee which has blades of various widths attached to a handle. In making purses and hats the narrow strippers are used; for mats or rugs wider ones are used.
Children Weave Too
All this sounds very intricate to the inexperienced, but it is an art of the Hawaiian people who have taught others. It is not uncommon to see young school children making articles or helping relatives prepare the lauhala. A young friend of ours — 10-years-old — was never so happy as the day she showed us her first hat and it was an article any adult would have been proud to display. In weaving hats, purses, baskets and caps, blocks of wood are used to conform with the shape and size of the article made. The moon-shaped purses need no blocks. There are two types of weave: hat weave which means two strips of lauhala, and the mat weave which is a single strip. There are straight weaves, corner weaves, oval and round.
If bleached lauhala is desired, the green lauhala must be boiled. Red lauhala or black banana leaves are used for trimming. Often other leaves are used for weaving: sugar cane-stalks, palm leaves, bamboo or coconut reeds.
It's Very Simple
I once asked an Hawaiian friend of mine who is an excellent weaver how she made a hat and this is what I learned. You begin piko, insert lauhala as you make haunu, kau ika lona. Then insert hauna ipu and hai ka ekeu. Insert with each haunu and hii. Yes, I stared, too, but now I know this is what you do. Begin at the center and insert lauhala as you make each round on the block. Insert on the end of the block and start your brim. Insert with each round and finish.
Needless to say few people realize the hours of hard work and backache that have gone into all the lovely lauhala articles found in the island stores.