Chapter 31

'Ahu 'ula

A Hawaiian feather cloak.

Heiau

A Hawaiian temple structure.

Tiki

A Marquesan three-dimensional carving of an exalted, deified ancestor figure.

Poupou

A decorated wall panel in a Maori meetinghouse.

Moai

A large, blocky figural stone sculpture found on Rapa Nui (Easter Island).

Eravo

A men's meeting house constructed by the Elema people in New Guinea.

Pou tokomanawa

A sculpture of an ancestor that supports a ridge pole of a Maori meetinghouse.

Pukao

A small red scoria cylinder that appears as a hat on moai.

Tukutuku

A stitched lattice panel found in a Maori meetinghouse.

Ahu

A stone platform on which moai were placed. Ahu marked burial sites or were used for ceremonial purposes.

Hevehe

An elaborate cycle of ceremonial activities performed by the Elema people of the Papuan Gulf region of New Guinea. Also the large, ornate masks that were produced for and presented during these ceremonies.

bisj pole

An elaborately carved pole constructed from the trunk of the mangrove tree. The Asmat people of southwestern New Guinea created bisj poles to indicate their intent to avenge a relative's death.

Kula

An exchange of white conusshell arm ornaments and red chama-shell necklaces that takes place among the Trobriand Islanders. These exchanges serve to stimulate the economy and cement social relationships.

Koru

An unrolled spiral design used by the Maori in their tattoos.

Tapa

Barkcloth made particularly in Polynesia. Tapa is often dyed, painted, stenciled, and sometimes perfumed.

Malanggan

Both the festivals held in honor of the deceased in New Ireland (Papua New Guinea) and the carvings and objects produced for these festivals.

Lapita pottery

Ceramic vessels elaborately decorated with incised, geometric designs. Found in a geographical region roughly bounded by New Guinea in the west and Tonga and Samoa in the east.

Ma-hevehe

Mythical water spirits; the Elema people of New Guinea believed that these spirits visited their villages.

Tapu

Opposite of Mana, controlling forces from contact between humans and gods.

Mana

Sacred Power they believe in.

manaia

Spiritual guardian

Ngatu

Tapa made by women in Tonga

Moko

The form of tattooing practiced by the Maori of New Zealand (Aotearoa).

Manulua

Tongan, "two birds." A Tongan design motif that symbolizes chiefly status derived from both parents.

Pare

carved door lintel in a ceremonial house.

tatanua

mask / helmet mask