I have been wondering if there are others who work or have worked on making ki`i punohu (ki`i out of the spines of the slate pencil urchin), such as noted by Forbes at a fishing shrine on Kahoolawe. Its been a while since I made my last one (some examples above) and I am thinking of getting into it again.
'Ohu
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Oh facinated by this and never saw this before!! pololei!! maika'i!! oh I want one...for obvious reasons lol. please, I would like to know some of the background on this. In my knowing, punohu means a red mist. was it the color corresponding to the correct red in the sky from the dried color of the umi? Seems that seems logical. these are absolutely U'I!!
Since we're all bringing out our ki'i punohu, I thought that I owed you a few pictures of some recent ones that I finished, e 'Ohu. Like Kumula'au, yours are truly inspiring in their sculptural and spiritual qualities. I think these four are a bit more refined from Kumakaha that you saw some time ago. In any case, I hope you do bring more ki'i into being! Your artistry is truly a thing to be admired.
- K
Kumula'au Sing > Kapalikuokalani MaileAugust 13, 2009 at 6:59am
Wow! Maika'i wale kou hana e Kapalikuokalani. It was nice seeing you and your dad at Bishop Museum this weekend.
Malama,
Kumula'au
ʻOhukaniʻōhiʻa > Kapalikuokalani MaileJune 3, 2009 at 8:57pm
I enjoy following your progress e Kapaliku! e hoomau i ka hana loea.
'Ohu
Ea, ua nani loa! I particularly like his topknot! You can continue working on his eyes so that they donʻt match the original contours of the outer shell, but thatʻs about all Iʻd suggest, though you could work his neck a bit more narrow, as in the original Kahoolawe example. However, I am always scared to work it as narrow, since it might snap! So mine all have bull necks! ;)
mahalo for sharing your work!
ʻOhu
Aloha e 'Ohu,
Maika'i wale kau hana me keia mau ki'i punohu. Hu ka nani, ua hau'oli au e 'ike i kou hana nui e ho'omau keia 'ano hana kupuna. Na ke Akua i ho'opomaika'i ia 'oe me keia kalena a me kekahi mau 'ano hana 'e a'e e like me ke hana oli, ka 'ike na'auao me na mea kanu a pela aku. Ho'omau i kau hana nui!
wow ohu, that is very beautiful, such detailed work with such a small peice must take alot of patience. i notice no teeth, i've heard of people who blow certain prayers into their art work like ceramic bowls when they were making them they would blow threw a straw and whisper prayers to be set in a peice that was being made. i know that our kupuna was very ritual about things they did, i know of energy being passed through the Ha and certain chants being uttered when making certain things, but do u think our kupuna chanted prayer into things they made to set it firmly into what they made? i havent seen a peice like this it is very impressive, i love Ki'i i dont know why after frequent bashing from my mom about pagan ect. ect. every time i see one i get excited.
Mahalo e Shantel: Ae, the work is detailed and hard, which is why they have no teeth! ;) I barely can fit a tongue in there! And yes, the pule go in continually as you work, and climaxes when the work is done and you pule for a correct name for the ki`i. Each of these I made has a name, and since the original ki`i punohu is from Kaho`olawe, all the names have some connection to that island. Here, below, is the ki`i punohu from Kaho`olawe, from a book Bishop Museum put out. I remember when I was first inspired to make one, it was after seeing this very ki`i punohu on temporary display in Hawaiian Hall, and wondering at the detail in such a small piece. It reinforced for me that important and very sacred things do not have to be huge.
aloha
'Ohu
PS: I think you get excited because ki`i represent the personification of the Hawaiian world, and a reverence for the uncountable manifestations that watch all of us. Our aloha for them strengthens them, and our rejection of them, or our trivialization of them (tiki bar style) weakens them.
Replies
- K
Malama,
Kumula'au
'Ohu
Aloha e 'Ohu, here's my go at ki'i punohu. I was inspired by your work and probably make a few more. Talk with you laters. Ke aloha, Kumula'aumahalo for sharing your work!
ʻOhu
Maika'i wale kau hana me keia mau ki'i punohu. Hu ka nani, ua hau'oli au e 'ike i kou hana nui e ho'omau keia 'ano hana kupuna. Na ke Akua i ho'opomaika'i ia 'oe me keia kalena a me kekahi mau 'ano hana 'e a'e e like me ke hana oli, ka 'ike na'auao me na mea kanu a pela aku. Ho'omau i kau hana nui!
Kumula'au Sing
aloha
'Ohu
PS: I think you get excited because ki`i represent the personification of the Hawaiian world, and a reverence for the uncountable manifestations that watch all of us. Our aloha for them strengthens them, and our rejection of them, or our trivialization of them (tiki bar style) weakens them.