Visitors will experience an artistic tradition unique to Hawaii when the Lyman Museum presents “Featherwork of Hawaii” by Lei Hulu of Hilo in celebration of Lei Day, observed May 1 throughout Hawaii.
Visitors will experience an artistic tradition unique to Hawaii when the Lyman Museum presents “Featherwork of Hawaii” by Lei Hulu of Hilo in celebration of Lei Day, observed May 1 throughout Hawaii.
These gifted cultural practitioners return to the museum with an exhibition and daily demonstrations May 1-16. For the past eight years, Hilo native Doreen Henderson and her students, collectively known as Lei Hulu of Hilo, have delighted Lyman Museum visitors with a colorful display of feather masterpieces such as lei hulu (feather lei), kahili (royal feather standards), ‘uli‘uli (feather gourds and rattles), ‘ahu‘ula (feather capes), and mahiole (helmet).
Lei Hulu of Hilo was founded by Henderson, who dedicated her life to the preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian featherwork and has practiced the art for over 30 years. She studied under master kumu Mary Kahihilani Kovitch, a student of Mary Lou Kekuewa, who is among the foremost featherwork teachers in Hawaii.
The exhibition is free with museum admission.