Hawaii's Most Famous Traditional Craft: Lāʻau (Wood Carving)

Lāʻau: The Art of Hawaiian Wood Carving

Lāʻau is the traditional Hawaiian practice of carving wood, passed down through generations. It holds deep cultural significance and produces functional and ceremonial objects.

Common Creations

• Bowls (ʻumeke) – for poi, food service
• Poi boards (papa kuʻi ʻai) – for pounding taro
• Walking sticks (lāʻau) – often personalized
• Kiʻi (statues) – ancestral or deity representations

Woods used include koa, kou, milo, and ʻōhiʻa. The craft embodies connection to ʻāina (land) and kūpuna (ancestors).