Ka Moʻolelo
Before the written word, our ancestors carved their stories into bone and wood. This is that story.
Carving represents one of the oldest methods of preserving and transmitting Polynesian culture across generations. Before colonization and the adoption of the English language, symbolism and art were how our people stored their history.
Each carving functioned as a genealogical record - tracing family lineage, representing family crests, accomplishments, and life experiences. Every symbol carries meaning. Every mark tells a story.
Some designs emerged from an instinctive connection to nature - the curve of a wave, the arc of a fish hook, the pattern of stars. Others were inherited through generations, passed from hand to hand like the tools themselves.
The makau - the fish hook - is perhaps the most significant symbol in Polynesian culture. It represents strength, prosperity, and a deep respect for the ocean that sustained our people.
The name "Makau Nui" itself references the Scorpius constellation and the legend of the demigod Maui, who used his great fish hook to pull the Hawaiian islands up from the ocean floor. It is a symbol of creation, of drawing life from the deep.
To wear a makau is to carry that story with you - a connection to the sea, to the islands, and to the ancestors who navigated thousands of miles of open ocean by the stars.
The Carver
Carving is a big part of our culture and my family's heritage. Working with traditional materials - cattle bone, koa wood, swordfish bill - I shape each piece entirely by hand, the way it's been done for generations.
It is our duty to teach our children what our culture has to offer. Every piece I carve is a step in keeping that promise - preserving the stories of our ancestors and passing the craft forward.
I work from the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, where my family has called home for as long as anyone can remember. If you'd like to talk about a piece - or just talk story - give me a call.
Each carving begins with the raw material - a piece of cattle bone, carefully selected for its grain and density. The shape reveals itself slowly, emerging through hours of hand carving, filing, and polishing.
There are no machines. No CNC routers. No shortcuts. The connection between the carver's hands and the material is part of what gives each piece its spirit - its mana.
The final step is the binding - traditional cord work that transforms a carving into something you can wear against your skin, close to your heart, every day.
Ready to talk about a piece? Whether you're looking for something from the collection or want a custom carving, give me a call.
(808) 747-5558or email makaunui@gmail.com