Kaila Hawai'i

Now that the Kaila teams move into Honolulu proper is now settled, we have finally have a chance to share some pictures of our lā‘ī skirt that this Kaila editor wore in a recent hula competition in June. This was my first competition and the first time having to dance in a skirt. The process was long and intensive. First, there was cleaning the leaves of the kī (Cordyline terminalis), trimming, and deboning. Then, the hours of tying leaf after leave to the main cord.  In all, the whole experience was deeply humbling, showing me the talent of our ancestors to transform simple leaves into an organic costume.

One integral part to the crafting process was the mindset one has when making the skirt. Thought and emotions are carried directly into the garment that will be worn. Despite the few hours of sleep I had after cleaning the leaves, I was ready to go the following morning. The freshness of the morning, I’ve realized, is the best time for me to do this kind of work. By the time night comes, my thoughts are too scattered to do anything this concentrated. (more…)

Tags: dance, hula, hula kahiko, lā‘ī, ti leaf, traditional hula