traditional Hawaiian vessels

[Dean Center]

I've always been fascinated by other culture's ways of thinking and doing, which can be very different from our Euro-American ones. Since someone gave me some Koa wood a while ago, I've looked into traditional Hawaiian vessels. What I've learned so far is that prior to the 20th Century, these were made by hand and not turned, using primitive tools, like shark teeth, stones and coral. The actual methods of working the wood were deeply guarded secrets and were lost when those who knew them died off without passing them on. Fascinating.

One question to which I have not been able to find an answer is whether the vessels were made in end grain or face grain orientation. Anyone out there know the answer? It's hard enough to contemplate making a 20" diameter 15" deep 'barrel' by hand, but can you imagine doing it end grain?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Dwight R Rutherford]

Kelly Dunn might know.

 

[KellyDunn]

Dean, there are a number of historical publications. Pretty much the bible is The Hawaiian Calabash by Jenkins. Out of print. Sold for $50 new but if you can find one on say ebay for under a hundered you might consider it.
To directly answer your question yes. Most traditional forms were done straight up the log. But side grain also. Kou and Milo were mostly done end grain. I pretty much do tradational forms in those woods. Koa was not considered a traditional wood as it was harder. So took a maker much longer to make. I do koa in both end and side grain. But in general side grain cause thats how the saw cut up the blanks.
I dont know if the Bishop Museum has anything online but they have a great collection of ancient pieces.
Pat Kramer is a very good calabash maker. Google him. Our basic difference is even in shorter bowls I like to come in towards the rim and begin to straighten out the form. On shorter pieces Pat just comes in. Both are perfectly acceptable. Since the form is from the calabash gourd. Also you can take a look at my website. My wife keeps a few calabash or the taller umeke style calabash forms on the website. www.kellydunnwoodturner.com
Two of the best was Dan Deluz and now retired Jack Straka.
The calabash looks like a very simple form. But hard as nails to pull off. I have been doing them for more than 25 years and still consider myself a serious student of the form.
Doug Leite also does very nice forms. Google any or all to find the variations.
Before western contact and metal a bowl took a very long time to make. But the methods have not been lost. Just no ones going to bother since we have lathes and metal.
Edit. I reread your post. End grain. Small fires. Softer wood sand and rocks. But the bigger the more a fire speeded it up.

 

[hockenbery]

Dean, I have been in dugout canoes in Peru in the 90's. These are just long skinny bowls. I have paddled one 10-12 feet long. They are surprisingly easy to maneuver. Bigger ones were 20-25 foot long 3-4 wide with outboard motors.
These modern day boats probably had a lot of chainsaw and adze hollowing but the earlier ones were made without iron tools. A lot of wooden bowls were made without a lathe.

Check out Kelly's and Pat's bowls... Al

 

[Dean Center]

Thanks! I looked at the images the Bishop museum has on-line and reviewed Pat Kramer's description of different forms, but simply couldn't tell. I'm not the best turner, but I'm pretty sure I have better control of a bowl gouge than a flame. 🙂