My art is created from the pod of Kauai’s coconut palm trees. The pod (sheath) holds the seed and baby coconuts. Once the pod opens, the coconuts and flower come out and continue to grow. From time to time, as the coconuts are almost ready to drop, “cutters” will trim the coconuts down. It is from this cutting that I am able to retrieve the pod. After allowing it to dry for a few weeks, I take the hardened pod and decide what it will become.
Raw pod
I take the pod and cut it, sand it down and hand stain it with three coats of polyurethane. All colors are custom mixed to my specifications. For the outriggers, I make the sails out of many different types of fabric. It is my goal to make them as “authentically” as possible. I offer a mulberry tree fabric called “Tapa”, which is what the ancients used to make sails and clothing. The masts and long arm are made out of bamboo. The short arms and paddle come from the pod itself. Another attempt at tradition is the use of “sennit” rope (woven coconut fibers). The process to make this rope is time consuming, but makes a strong, waterproof rope.
Sennit Rope
