umeke la'au pakaka
Wood, probably kou
diameter 18 1/8in (46cm)

Provenance:
Joseph E. Kennedy Collection, Hawaii
Kennedy, a longtime resident of the North Shore of Hawaii was a Hawaiian archaeologist, well-known and respected as the principal of Archaeological Consultants of Hawaii and later Archaeological Consultants of the Pacific. He conducted archaeological research in American Samoa and in Micronesia, and he participated in excavations in Guatemala and in Egypt. Kennedy's archaeological survey of Waimea Valley, Oahu, in 2005 documented the importance of the valley to Hawaii's history. It led the City and County of Honolulu to take measures to preserve Waimea after initially voting to allow development there. A pristine Waimea valley is one of his lasting gifts to Hawaii.

This exceptional and unusually large pakaka is most likely pre-contact and handsomely stone and shell carved from most likely kou with delicate thin walls and original kukui nut oil finish. Native repairs throughout.