194 



Ka Hana Kapa. 



The Hawaiian chiefs had a malo used only when in bathing made of kapa 

 soaked in kamani oil in which the seeds of Haa {Aiitidcsma platypJiyUnvi Mann) had 

 been infused. This preparation made the kapa flexible, indestructible in the water, 

 and of a bright color. On the Samoan and other of the southern groups, the lavalava 



or male dress was quite like the pa'u of the. 

 Hawaiian female, although not so long. 

 A 3-oung Samoan of Pagopago in removing 

 his lavalava to show me the fine pattern of 

 his tatu incidentally gave me an oppor- 

 tunity of seeing that it was fastened on in 



;. IN MODERN DRESS. 



FIG. 117. MAX IN MALO. 



the same waj^ as the Hawaiian pa'u, a simple 

 twist. All the pain and expense of the neat 

 pattern extending from his navel to mid- 

 thigh was thrown awaj^, for he told me that 

 if he left off his lavalava while in bathing he 

 would be fined three shillings and sixpence; 

 times were indeed changed ! The kihei was common to the sexes and answered the 

 purpose of a shawl when the cool trade winds were blowing from the mountain gorges. 

 Of course a simple sheet of kapa frequently served the purpose of covering for warmth, 

 but the specimens that have survived in museums are generally of good material 

 carefully decorated, apparentU', in later times, in close imitation of foreign shawls. 

 Such a garment may have preceded the pa'u or served as substitute for that and the 



