Name/Title
Tongan NgatuEntry/Object ID
MK_0048Description
This Tongan ngatu, painted in black and brown pigments with geometricized rosettes arranged in rows, is part of the Hotel’s distinct collection of diverse and stunning bark cloth from across the Pacific.
This cloth, made from softened mulberry tree bark, is found in many parts of the world and known by several different names (you will note the hotel’s bespoke collection of Kapa, or Hawaiian bark cloth), but is native to the Pacific Islands, most commonly found in Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, and right here in Hawai'i.
Tongan ngatu is prepared through a special process of soaking and pounding the bark, before being decoratively painted with vegetable dyes and oils, this cloth was originally used to make common items like clothes and floormats, alongside being used for ceremonial purposes.
This treasured piece has been in the Mauna Kea's collection since 1965, when Laurance Rockefeller developed the hotel, and was very recently restored. You might see this object referred to as Tapa in historic collection reference materials, but recent research by the Mauna Kea team has revealed a more specific way to refer to this object.Made/Created
Place
Country
TongaContinent
OceaniaDimensions
Height
48 inLength
82-7/8 inHeight
52-5/8 inWidth
3 inLength
85-1/8 inHeight
46-1/2 inLength
81-1/2 inLocation
Area
7th Floor Mauka-South WingFloor
7th FloorBuilding
Main Tower* Untyped Location
Storage ShedFloor
7th FloorBuilding
Main TowerFloor
7th FloorBuilding
Main TowerFloor
8th FloorBuilding
Main Tower