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Welcome to the exhibit Puali’ahu (to never forget the ʻahu ‘ula). This is the feather work of renowned artist, Rick San Nicolas, Kumu Hulu Nui (Feather Master of Ancient Hawaiian Featherwork). All of the feather work in this exhibit is available to purchase, or you can commission your own feather cape or cloak, feather lei or hatband. All contacts can be made through his website at www.hawaiianfeathers.com. Triangle background design concept by Kauila Kawelu Barber; exhibit set up by Rick San Nicolas, Chinky Mahoe, Hayden Ortiz, and Kauila Kawelu Barber.
Rick has several public exhibits to view of feather cloak collections at several public locations: The Four Seasons Resort Hualālai, Hawaiʻi; the ʻAlohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach, Oʻahu; the Hawaiʻi Convention Center, Oʻahu; the Kahala Resort, Oʻahuʻ the Embassy Suites Beachwalk Waikīkī, Oʻahu; the Kauaʻi Museum, Kauaʻi; and the Australian Museum, Sydney, AU. Among the collection of Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI) and private clients, Rick has made 9 full length feather cloaks, over 30 shoulder capes, 15 mahiole (feathered helmets), two pairs of standing kāhili, two full size replicas of the kiʻi Kūkāʻilimoku, and a replica of the sash Kāʻei Kapu o Līloa. Rick was selected by the Department of Interior and has a framed feather cape that is now on the office wall of the Secretary of the Interior, at the Department of the Interior Museum. Rick has most recently been selected and is working as the Consultant of Hawaiian feather work for the upcoming Apple TV movie series, “Chief of War,” starring Jason Momoa.
Click on the image links below to view each case description






Case 1: ‘Ahu Kaua (Battle Capes)

Case 1: This case offers three different ʻahu kaua, or battle capes. These capes would be worn over one shoulder and under the other. This style of ʻahu ʻula is from much older times, before the shoulder capes were ever made. This style of ʻahu ʻula (feather cape), ʻahu kaua (battle cape) even in a smaller size, predated the full-length cloaks. The first cape is made with half bronze rooster schlappen feathers in the main body, along with natural white and scarlet feathers of the Lady Amherst pheasant. The second cape is made with green and scarlet feathers of the Lady Amherst pheasant and gold feathers from the Chinese Golden pheasant. Very dark green feathers have been documented on old battle capes of the 18th century in watercolor paintings by Sarah Stone. The third cape is made with half bronze rooster schlappen and using scarlet feathers from the Lady Amherst pheasant and gold feathers from Chinese Golden pheasant. All three capes will have hand braided kaula (ties) made by Thom Breeze, master braider.
Case 2: Replica of Cloak of the Ruling King Pi’ilani of the Mau’i Kingdom

Case 2: This case offers a replica of the magnificent cloak of the ruling King Piʻilani of the Maui Kingdom. This large cloak is nine feet wide at its widest point horizontally, and sixty-eight inches in length. The circle motifs are of Maui descent on this cloak and of others in museums around the world. This cloak is made with natural color feathers from both the Lady Amherst pheasant and the Chinese Golden pheasant. Also in this case is the square peg mahiole. There is only one example of this style helmet with the square posts that support the crest, and that helmet does not have any feathers remaining. This is considered the only helmet in this style that is known to exist with feathers applied. This mahiole belongs to Ron Jarrett and the Jarrett ʻohana. The two feather lei in the calabash belong to, and were made by, Chinky Māhoe. The portrait on the wall is of Rick San Nicolas. This cloak has a hand braided kaula (tie) made by Thom Breeze, master braider.
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Case 3 ‘Ahu Kaua (Battle Capes)

Case 3: This case offers three different ʻahu kaua, or battle capes. The first cape is made with gold and black feathers from the Chinese Golden pheasant, and scarlet feathers from the Lady Amherst pheasant. The second cape is made with natural bronze rooster tail feathers, feathers from the Lady Amherst pheasant, as well as from the Chinese Golden pheasant. The third cape is made with the feathers of the Chinese Golden pheasant and the Lady Amherst pheasant. All three capes will have hand braided kaula (ties) made by Thom Breeze, master braider.
Case 4: Pictorial Story of Princess Ka’iulani

Case 4: This case features a pictorial story of Princess Kaʻiulani. Victoria Kawēkiu Kaʻiulani Lunalilo Kalaninuiahiliapalapa Cleghorn, October 16, 1875 – March 6, 1899, was the only child of Princess Miriam Likelike, and the last heir apparent to the throne of the Hawaiian Kingdom. She was the niece of King David Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani. This case exhibits a mannequin dressed in an original gown made by designer Allen Akina in 1988, for Desiree Moana Cruz, who wore it while singing “Maui Waltz” as Miss Hawaiʻi, 1988. This gown is on loan from Desiree Cruz and we aloha her very much for being able to exhibit this beautiful gown. Kauila Kawelu Barber dyed the gown into a deeper color to fit the era of what is depicted herein, and he designed the mannequin for this exhibit, as well. The black and white background photo is of Princess Kaʻiulani’s home, ʻĀinahau. This photo was enlarged as the backdrop and features peacock running about on the property. Princess Kaʻiulani loved her peacocks, so to bring a little life into the black and white, we had the male peacocks digitally colored blue just for that little feature. Princess Kaʻiulani didn’t have a blue peacock cape, but I thought that if she were to have one made today, I would create one of peacock feathers. This is an original design of, and made by, Rick San Nicolas. The large full-size peacock taxidermy is just spectacular while showing the full color and size of a real peacock as to be walking the grounds of ʻĀinahau, leaving a trail of tail feather behind. Lei hulu in calabash loaned by Chinky Mahoe.
Case 5: Replica of a Feather Cape Worn by Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole

Case 5: This case features Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, and he was a Prince of the Hawaiian Kingdom until it was overthrown by a coalition of American and European businessmen in 1893. He later went on to become a representative in the Territory of Hawaiʻi as delegate to the United States Congress, and as such is the only member of Congress ever born into royalty. Mannequin designed and prepared by Kauila Kawelu Barber.
Case 6: Lauhala Hats with Lei Humu Papa (Feather Hatbands)

Case 6: This case features a more contemporary exhibit of lau hala hats with lei humu papa or, feather hatbands. The center featured hat and lei were made by Elsie Karassas of Waikīkī in early 1940. This aged lau hala hat, finely woven of deep gold color lauhala from one of the last lauhala forests in Maui, is adorned with magnificent pheasant feathers, using the “heart” feathers of the Chinese Ringneck pheasant. The lauhala hat is valued at $15,000.00, the hatband is valued at $15,000.00. Also featured in this case are portraits of kūpuna of Hawaiʻi, wearing traditional Hawaiian feather capes. These portraits come from The ʻAhu ʻula Project (or TAP). TAP is a concept that came from the meeting of the minds of Rick San Nicolas and Kauila Kawelu Barber. Kauila is a Kumu Hula, a photographer while spending many years in the film industry, and a friend. We had talked many years ago about coming together to photograph people wearing the feather capes I make, to show that this art form can become art on the wall of your home. These portraits are done in different ways and are just beautiful. If you want to support The ʻAhu ula Project (TAP), or sponsor an exhibit to photograph a group of people or business associates in ʻahu ʻula, please contact me through Hawaiianfeathers.com.
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