Birds, Gods, and Chiefs

Gods, chiefs and birds may seem to have little in common, but in ancient Hawaiian culture they were more alike than different — a connection illuminated in a book due out in mid-August and in a related exhibit coming to San Francisco's De Young Museum on Aug. 29.

In Hawaiian culture, the feathers of birds endemic to the island were the most precious resources. As the only earthly creature, besides chiefs, to convene with the gods, honeycreepers and honeyeaters were by default spiritual beings, and their feathers were coveted finds. Sometimes collected by chiefs as taxes, the vibrantly colored plumes were crafted by hand into garments that symbolized divinity and power through an art form known as na hulu ali'i (royal feathers)...

-As seen in the LA Times Art and Books Sunday edition 8/9/2015