Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 1 January 1984 — ANO HOʻIKE Book Review [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ANO HOʻIKE Book Review

HAWAIIAN FURI\IITURE AND HAWAIFS CABINETMAKERS by Irving Jenkins PHOTOGRAPHS BY MIOHAEL D. HORlKAWA Published for the Daughters of Hawaii by Editions Limited. 1983, 350 pages, $49.95

Ariyone who has seen the beauty oi native Hawaiian hard woods used in lurniture or Hooring. who owns a koa rocker or table. or has made something with native woods will tind this hook to bc as valuable and beautilul as the wood or lurniture itsell . It is a beautil'ul and beautifullv designed book lull of the historv ol woodworking in Hawaii from 1 820 to 1 940 and ol photographs of furniture. Thc history is detailed and extensive of the various craftsmen and artisaris who labored to hew the logs and to create both intricate and simplc pieces of furniture. It is ol interest to read ol missionary. Europcan and Asian cabinetmakcrs. oi' who thev were. how thcy established their business and how they conceived making a pieee ol furniture. Some ol thc more interesting pieces arc those that integrated Hawaiian motils and designs with European cabinetmaking like Mark Twain's koa fireplace mantel and carving (destroyed in a fire. but designed with hau Ieaves. ilima flowers. taro and fern leaves with a panel spelling 'AL.OHA'). Another pieee is a paina table for Queen Kapiolani whieh brought together Western, Chinese and Hawaiian elements into a single pieee. HAWAllAN FURN1TURE also has excellent appendixes and even a section on "Care ol Hawaiian Furniturc." An added dimcnsion whieh is not in the book are the techniques used bv the cabinCtmakers in creating the their pieces. There are some plans given, but l'or those who are novices more in-

formation of those old skills might have added to the depth ol the book. The Daughters ol Hawaii have published this book for a two-fold purpose. Their organi/ation, whose members are women descended from women who lived in Hawaii before 1 880. is dedicated to preserve things ol old Hawaii and to perpetuate the correct pronunciation and usage ol Hawaiian languagc. The publication ol the first and perhaps definitive book on Hawaiian furniture is certainly in l'ull'illment ol those objectives. Hawaiian lurniture is part ol both old and modern Hawaii and especially was part of the life ol Hawaii's monarchy. 7 he L)aughters also manage and take care ol Queen Emma's Summer l'alaee. Hulihe'e Palaee and the birthplace of Kamehameha III. Those areas are restored and funds raised through admission to both Palaces. The Daughters have publised HAWAIIAN FURN'lTURF. as a fund raiser to provide ineome for their organization and also to publish more books about Hawaii. Those who co!lect books on Hawaii will find this an excellent ehoiee to purchase; those who love furniture made from koa or other native woods will find it a must to purchase; and for those w ho have koa tables and chairs. or rockers out in the yard or in disrepair will find in this book inspiring historv and bcaut\ ol Hawaiian furniture. whether they purchase or just browsc through. M.N.C.

Hawaiian kupuna and voungster enjoy kalua pig, poi and all thetrimmingsfollowing the November 26, 1983 blessing ceremony at Halau Likolauiani O Hawaii.

Koa Rocker from the book, Hawaiian Furniture; photo, Camera Hawaii