Woven Mats

Woven Mats

Woven mats served as blankets, bedding, and wall dividers in Hawaiian homes. They were also portable and could be taken on trips. The finest mats are called MAKALOA mats and the island of Niihau specialized in the finest design and manufacture of these sought after mats made from the makaloa plant. The mats are called MOENA in Hawaiian.

Makaloa is a sedge that grows in moist areas.

The mats made from makaloa were sometimes combined with other fibers of different colors to created geometric patterns created during the weaving process, not painted on later.

 

See Jack London’s story ‘On the Makaloa Mat’ for your reading enjoyment .