Back to search results
Hawaiian feathered helmet (mahiole)

Image Hawaiian feathered helmet (mahiole)

TLF ID R2040

This is a feather helmet from Hawaii that was given to Captain James Cook on the beach at Kealakekua Bay in January 1779. It is made from the yellow and red feathers of the mamo, o'o and i'iwi birds. The framework of the helmet is made from the tough aerial roots of the 'ie'ie plant. A net of olona fibres is laid over this frame and feathers are attached in small bundles.

View resource


Educational details

Educational value
  • This asset shows that Cook was at one stage so revered by the Hawaiian people as an incarnation of Lono, one of the principal Hawaiian gods, that he was given this helmet by Kalani'öpu'u, a Hawaiian high chief.
  • It reveals the importance and status of the Hawaiian high chief for whom this helmet was made - considerable resources were used in hunting the mamo, o'o and i'iwi birds, and in constructing the helmet.
  • It shows the Hawaiian people's high levels of skill in design and weaving.
  • It suggests that the impact of the construction of such helmets on the local bird populations was considerable - both the mamo and o'o birds are now extinct.
  • It is one of the items collected during Cook's third voyage (1776-79) - after charting the west coast of North America from northern California as far as the Bering Strait, Cook returned to the Hawaiian Islands and died in a skirmish with Hawaiians on 14 February 1779, nineteen days after receiving the helmet.
Topics Costume Family relationship Feathers Helmets

Other details

Contributors
  • Contributor
  • Name: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
  • Organization: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
  • Description: Content provider
  • URL: http://www.tepapa.govt.nz
  • Name: Education Services Australia
  • Organization: Education Services Australia
  • Description: Data manager
  • Copyright Holder
  • Name: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
  • Organization: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
  • Publisher
  • Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Organization: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Description: Publisher
  • Address: VIC, AUSTRALIA
  • URL: http://www.esa.edu.au
  • Resource metadata contributed by
  • Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Organisation: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Address: AUSTRALIA
  • URL: www.esa.edu.au
Access profile
  • Colour independence
  • Device independence
  • Hearing independence
Learning Resource Type
  • Image
Rights
  • © Education Services Australia Ltd and Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 2013, except where indicated under Acknowledgements