March 11, 2016
Hawaiians collect Cook taonga
A delegation from the Bishop Museum ain Hawaii has been welcomed to Te Papa Tongarewa today to uplift two significant treasures connected with Captain James Cook’s visit to the islands.
The 'ahu'ula (cloak) and mahiole (helmet) were a gift from Hawaiian Chief Kalani‘opu‘u to Captain Cook in 1779.
They’ve been in Te Papa's collection since being gifted to the national museum in 1912.
Kaihautu Maori at Te Papa, Arapata Hakiwai, says talks on the loan started in 2013 when a delegation from the museum traveled to New Zealand to see what taonga were held in museums here.
"It fitted within what our national musuem is all about. It is that if we have important treasures that can uplift the spirit and can do greater things, then why shouldn't we make all the effort to return them to their source communities," he says.
Arapata Hakiwai says when he goes up to Hawaii to deliver the items for display, he will talk with museums there about suitable taonga Maori that may be brought back here on loan.
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