Kapa Making

Dyeing the fabric (Waiho’olu’u) is done using aulena, which is dyed yellow (ʻōlenalena).
Yellow is the color for royalty, especially Kamehameha.
Olena is used to dye the dye while heating it in a skimmer.

kapa_1-150x150
The dyed cloth is then dried and used to make skirts and kihei.
Pelone (special non-woven fabric) and Olena are boiled and dyed together.