Lau hala, the Hawaiian word for the leaf of the hala tree (Pandanus tectorius), has been central to Polynesian and Hawaiian culture since time immemorial. Lau hala weaving, like all art, requires patience and practice. The leaves undergo a lengthy process of preparation to make them into dried pliable. Skillful mastery of technique is needed to use lau hala to make a wide array of objects. The hala mat is the most well known product of lau hala weaving, symbolic of the home and its comforts. Hats, baskets, bracelets, and much more can be made from lau hala. Although lau hala weaving is a practical art, its artist’s finest creations are truly embodiments of the love of art itself.
-David Shepard