Recollections of a Family Tradition of Bird-Catching

Recollection of a Family Tradition

Hawaiians developed a unique, exceptional, and outstanding craftsmanship in creating their featherwork with the use of endemic birds with different feather colors. Dr. Isabella Aiona Abbott, G. P. Wilder Emeritus Professor of Botany, recalls the demonstration of this family tradition by her great uncle in the mountains near Lahaina, island of Maui when she was a young child. He showed her how the birds were trapped with a sticky substance (e.g., sap of pāpala kēpau (Pisonia spp., family Nyctaginaceae). After the required feathers removed, the bird’s feet were rubbed with kukui nut oil (Aleurites moluccana) to remove the sticky substance, and then the bird was released.

Production Credits

Featuring

• Isabella Aiona Abbott

Directed by:

• Will McClatchey

Filmed by:

• David Strauch and David Reedy

Edited by:

• David Strauch