Artifact Number:
1972.132
Object:
Cape
Ahuula
Material:
Feather, plant (olona)
Dimensions:
26 x 55 cm
Origin:
Hawaii, Polynesia
Comments:
This ahuula was given to Karl D. White of Independence, Kansas. He served in Company K of the 32nd U.S. Volunteer Infantry in the Philippines from 1899 to 1901. While stationed there, he befriended Senora Blanco of Dinalupejuan on Luzon Island. She gave the ahuula to him because she had no heirs and she believed they were related because her name in Spanish translated to "White". It was handed down from generation to generation in the Blanco family. It is unsure who or when it made its way to the Philippines. It is made up of red iiwi (Vestiaria coccinea) and yellow and black oo (Moho spp.) feathers. Its background is of yellow oo with a large red iiwi crescent partially inset by two smaller black oo crescents, one at top right, and the other at bottom left. Two red iiwi triangles run along the left front edge and one on the right front edge. Its net backing is made of olona (Touchardia latifolia) fiber. This was donated on behalf of the family of Karl D. White.
Collection Name:
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