John M Cummings III

Craft

Three traditional weapons: Newa Niho - Toothed club, Pahoa A'u Ku - Sworfish bill dagger, Pahoa - Dagger made from acacia koa wood.

Craft

Based on an original kukui (candle nut) torch or lama ku in the collection of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass. these three torches were used last year for traditional ceremonial purposes at Pu'ukohola National Historic Park on the island of Hawai'i.

Craft

Made from the trunk of a coconut tree this drum or pahu is used for hula or traditional Hawaiian religious ceremonies. This pahu was made using the traditional burning method to hollow the trunk.

Craft

The Pahoa A’u Ku was one of many weapons carried into battle by Hawaiian Warriors trained in the art of Lua or bone breaking. Pahoa of this style would be carried tucked in the malo (loin cloth) and used as a piercing weapon in close quarters fighting. The favored killing blow would be either a thrust down the clavicle into the heart and lungs or directly into the eye socket puncturing the brain. This Pahoa is made from the bill of the Pacific Swordfish and the handle is wrapped in white bark cloth with coconut sennit to improve the grip. The bark cloth and sennit would absorb blood, sweat, sea water or other body fluids.