This makau or fishhook from Hawai‘i is finely carved from wood and intricately lashed with 3-ply braided coconut sennit fibre. It was gifted to Te Papa Museum in 1912.

Collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, FE000361. Gift of Lord St Oswald, 1912.

Illustration by Cecelia Faumuina

Dr Manulani Meyer, Meleanna Meyer & Maile Meyer.

“...I think that’s the seed of how Hawaiian knowledge systems were and how they were planted - through aloha - and do you see how they are being rejuvenated today! We are unique as people, as practitioners, as educators, as artists …. in our principles and our love of land and care of people. We’re specific and clear about our priorities and values because we are island people. These thoughts actually boiled down into what is now described as Hawaiian epistemology. We began to ask the questions: what is enduring knowledge all about?

What is the difference between knowledge, knowing and understanding, or manaʻoiʻo, manaʻolana and aloha? These are big differences and we know what they are! We as Island Peoples have unique ways to respond to those questions, and responding to them and how they get expressed throughout the world has been a discipline, love, and joy to practice.... and all that is one way to describe Hawaiian Art.”

Dr Manulani Aluli Meyer