Britannica Sources used in this answer

How were Hawaiian feather cloaks made and decorated?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

dilly bag; Aboriginal Australian art, Northern Territory, Australia — Oceanic art and architecture An Aboriginal Australian decorating a tightly woven dilly bag with white, yellow, and ochre (red) paints, Northern Territory, Australia, 1948.

Hawaiian feather cloaks, known as ahuula, were highly sophisticated garments worn by high chiefs and kings for ceremonial occasions and combat.12

These cloaks were constructed by attaching bunches of minute bird feathers to a netted base. The primary colors used were red and yellow, occasionally accented with black or green feathers. The feathers were meticulously arranged to create geometric patterns, including triangles, lozenges, circles, squares, and sweeping crescents.12

The design of the cloaks varied by size and purpose. Smaller, trapezoidal capes were likely an early form designed to provide protection around the neck during battle, while larger cloaks featured rounded necks and lower edges with flaring sides. This featherwork represents a unique and spectacular development within Polynesian artistic traditions, reflecting the status and religious beliefs of the Hawaiian aristocracy.2