Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 11, 1 November 1985 — Festival '85: a Lively Celebration [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Festival '85: a Lively Celebration

Bishop Museum Festival *85 on Oct. 19 and 20 had something for everyone to see, do and enjoy. This was the first year it was held as a two-day affair and judging from the attendance, no one ean say it was not a success. There was entertainment for adults and children with an outstanding array of top Hawaiian groups and individuals. Hula, crafts, exhibitions and a once-a-year opportunity for "behind the scenes" tours were among highlights of the festivai. Articles made by Hawaiian artisans were among a number of items available for sale as many festival goers seized the ehanee to do some early Christmas shopping. One of the most frequented craft exhibits was the demonstration of wood carving and weaving techniques by a trio of Maori artists from New Zealand and fibre plaiting and shellwork by Kwaio artists from the Solomon lslands. Master wood carver Pakariki Harrison and his student, Eric Korewha, patiently and slowly chipped at blocks of totara, New Zealand pine, and answered questions about their folk art. Harrison worked on a four-foot long wall panel while Korewha was detailing a large ceremonial food bowl and lid whieh he described as "earth mother and sky father." It resembled a human figure standing on all fours. Harrison said the wood for the food bowl is over 100 years old and was immersed in mud during that period of time. It was one of many pilings used to build walkways in New Zealand. The wood used by Harrison was not one of them. Both men are fulltime traditional wood carvers from New Zealand's North Island. Their specialty is creating wall panels that hang in Maori meeting houses. Harrison has been a teacher in various primary and secondary schools for the past 23 years. He is currently carving the Auckland University and maraes and also lecturing in Maori carving. "I was taught carving initially at the Hiruharama Primary School under a scheme instituted by the late Apirana Ngata and continued on at Te Aute College. The late Pine Taiapa exerted considerable influence on my development as a carver," Harrison said. Harrison has taught carving to a number of students at night classes for over 15 years and has acted as advisor to many carvers involved in their first meeting house. He also lectured and demonstrated his craft at UNESCO in Paris, France.

Korewha, 26, has been carving for 10 years. "A Maori wood carver is part craftsman, part artist and part historian," he explained. Korewha added that there is so mueh to leam about the history of Maori wood carving. The basket weaver is Mrs. Emily Rangitiaria Schuster, women's cultural supervisor of the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where she has been employed for the past 16 years. She has taught and promoted traditional Maori weaving skills to over 3,000 women and 900 high school students throughout her country. Mrs. Schuster has also played a'major role in promoting tourism for her country in the United States and Canada. During these promotional campaigns, she presented Maori arts, history and culture to thousands in the two countries. In addition to the festival, the three Maori artists also held demonstrations for Hawaiian studies sfudents of Farrington High School and elementary and high school students of The Kamehameha Schools. They also toured the PoIynesian Cultural Center where they engaged in a cultural exchange. The Maori returned home Oct. 28.

Photos show three Maon artists demonstrating their craft. Panels from left to right show master carver Pakariki Harrison chiseling away at a wall panel. His student, Eric Korewha, also chips away at ceremonial food bowl and Mrs. Emily Rangitiaria Schuster is weaving a purse using the feathers of the Kiwi bird.