Hawaiian featherwork arrived with the archipelago’s first inhabitants and is intrinsic to the identity and culture of Native Hawaiian people. Historically, featherwork was reserved only for men. Today, however, the practice has evolved to embrace female practitioners as its foremost proponents. The growing community of featherwork artists foster innovation in thoughtful response to the evolving social context in which they practice.

Mele Kahalepuna Chun is a kumu hulu — a recognised expert practitioner and teacher of Hawaiian featherwork — based on the island of O‘ahu in Hawai‘i. As a third-generation kumu hulu, Chun describes her continued engagement with the artform as the fulfilment of her kuleana — her sacred responsibility to serve her community and honour the ho‘oilina (legacy) of her family through the ongoing custodianship and advancement of this artform.