Often overlooked in a modern world held together with chemical adhesives and mechanical fasteners, cordage making and knot tying is pre-historic knowledge that was critical to all human survival and expansion across the globe. The significance of fibre technology is often overshadowed by the remarkable feats and incredible achievements that humans have accomplished; however, the fact remains, none of it would have been possible without this ancient technology. Indeed, Te Rangi Hīroa’s (1930) claim that coconut fiber cord “is the most important single article in Samoan material culture” (p. 236) should include Hawaiʻi, if not all of Polynesia. For Kānaka or Native Hawaiians, cordage represented more than just a means of harnessing and navigating the natural world. Knotted nets, and the cord used to tie them, were essential for sustaining life and embodied the virtues of mighty akua (gods), powerful aliʻi (chiefs), and a strong society. In addition to the use of cord as a divine symbol of supreme authority, aliʻi or chiefs of the highest rank possessed kōkō puʻupuʻu or especially tied carry nets which conveyed the kapu or sacred prohibition of the owner. Considering that these unique objects are found nowhere else in the world, it comes as no surprise that very little has been recorded about their existence. As a valuable contribution to knowledge, this thesis seeks to address this deficiency. The absence of a systematic study examining the social significance of kōkō puʻupuʻu is noteworthy, especially in light of the social, political, and religious importance of cordage and knot-work in traditional Hawaiian culture. While the primary rationale for this study is the reclamation and preservation of intangible cultural knowledge, this study also seeks to identify possible origins of kōkō puʻupuʻu, as well as the resilience of this practice in the face of widespread cultural loss.
Gourds, Calabashes, Hue