Can Mahalo be used as a greeting?

Can Mahalo be used as a greeting?

Mahalo is a phrase you’re likely to hear a lot, and should use too, during your stay. It means “thank you!” Say it to waiting staff and people who help you out, to get one of those warm Hawaiian smiles.

What is the ceremonial significance of the hiapo tapa?

The most important traditional uses for tapa were for clothing, bedding and wall hangings. Textiles were often specially prepared and decorated for people of rank. Tapa was ceremonially displayed on special occasions, such as birthdays and weddings. In sacred contexts, tapa was used to wrap images of deities.

Why is Tapa so highly valued?

Ngatu, or tapa cloth, is one of Tonga’s most important possessions. It is an asset treasured from generation to generation. Before money was introduced to our people, ngatu was similar to the value of money in the olden days. In the plantation, or backyard, the men plant the trees that tapa cloth is made from.

Who in Pacific communities makes tapa cloth?

Tapa cloth (or simply tapa) is a barkcloth made in the islands of the Pacific Ocean, primarily in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, but as far afield as Niue, Cook Islands, Futuna, Solomon Islands, Java, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Hawaii (where it is called kapa).

What is the ceremonial significance of the malagan display and mask?

Function: Commonly used at funeral sites. Send a farewell off to the dead. Celebrate the achievements and life of the dead.

Who wore the Bundu mask?

Bundu masks, created in the 19th and 20th centuries in Sierra Leone, were crafted by men but worn by women during initiation masquerades. These masks represent the importance of women in Mende society, as well as the emphasis on adhering to the ideal of a young Mende woman.

What is a malagan ceremony?

Malagan (also spelled malangan or malanggan) ceremonies are large, intricate traditional cultural events that take place in parts of New Ireland province in Papua New Guinea. The word malagan refers to wooden carvings prepared for ceremonies and to an entire system of traditional culture.

Where does the malagan mask come from?

A tatanua is a type of traditional mask made by the natives in the province of New Ireland, Papua New Guinea. The masks are made of wood and other natural materials and used in funeral ceremonies called malagan.