ʻAhu ʻula

The ʻahu ʻula (feather cape or cloak in the Hawaiian language, literally "red/sacred garment for the upper torso"), and the mahiole (feather helmet) were symbols of the highest rank of the chiefly aliʻi class of ancient Hawaii.

There are over 160 examples of this traditional clothing in museums around the world. At least thirty of these capes were collected during the voyages of Captain Cook, and sixteen survive.

These cloaks are made from a woven netting decorated with bird feathers and are examples of fine featherwork techniques.

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