Papale Lauhala

So, "Papale Lauhala" translates to Lauhala Hat. Lauhala is the leaf from the pandanus tree.Once dried and softened it can be stripped to the width you wish to use and weave it to make many different items. The leaves also dry in various shades, depending upon the tree. Some are more white and can go to a deep red and even a chocolate brown. For the last 20 years I have been attending the Ka Ulu Lauhala O Kona conference in Kona, Hawaii. It is a lauhala weaving conference that takes place in May with many different classes and levels, depending on your skills and interests. This year I made a lauhala hat with an overlay, that is, placing a different fiber on top of the lauhala, to enhance a pattern. The pattern I used/learned is a switch-back. The fibers I used are black banana, white bamboo, and bamboo leaf. The bamboo leaf came from another participant at the conference who harvested it in Japan. She weaves bamboo in Japan and brought the dried leaf to share with others to use. The conference was so much fun - seeing friends I've made over the years, making new ones, learning new things! Here is the hat I made - I placed a shell necklace around the brim to decorate it.

I've been talking with a friend about her making a lei hulu (feather lei) for the brim. I'm excited to see what she will design, as she makes beautiful feather leis!
I hope you have a wonderful day!