About Us

Our Name

The store gets its moniker-Kapa Fabrics-from the age-old Polynesian art of making unwoven "fabric" from the bark of trees.

In ancient Polynesia, the material used to make clothing and bedding was called tapa-a cloth made from the soft, inner bark of trees. In Hawai'i, it is now called kapa, where unique processes evolved to produce kapa's quality and artistry of decoration.

Women had the labor-intensive job of making kapa, which was done by carefully stripping bark from trees. The strips were beaten on a stone kua (anvil) before dried, dyed and/or perfumed. Bark from the wauke (paper mulberry) tree was highly prized for making kapa as it was long, straight and had a minimum of branches.

Noted Hawaiian historian and artist Herb Kawainui Kane writes in "Ancient Hawai'i" that kapa "was often embossed in a final watermarking with beaters incised with geometric designs." According to Kane, kapa was dyed using plants like olena (tumeric) or akala berries. Pigment from kukui nut soot was applied with carved bamboo stamps, called 'ohe kapala.

Hawaiian women spent many hours making kapa to fashion malo (loincloths) for men, pa'u (skirts) for women and kihei, draped lengths of kapa tied over the shoulder. No seams were required and a quick knot or tuck held kapa clothing together.

Who We Are

Sisters Sharon Paoa and Lori Honl opened Kapa Fabrics in the spring of 2006. The women are native to the Big Island and long-time residents who are proud of their Polynesian heritage. Sharon and Lori are both active members of several organizations, including the Daughters of Hawai'i, an organization of women who trace their ancestry as living in Hawai'i before 1880. They each generously donate time at Hulihe'e Palace, the former vacation home of Hawaiian royalty and the "grand lady" of Kailua-Kona. (It's also a short walk from their new location).

Sharon
The eldest of the two sisters, Sharon has worked in the travel and tourism industry for over 30 years. Sharon's creative capabilities shine whether planning an event or a marketing promotion. She first got into sewing with the 4-H Honalo Rainbows when she made an apron. "I learned the basics," she recalls about her humble beginnings. "Sewing is a skill that stays with you." While she doesn't have much time for sewing today, she loves to buy fabric and employs her favorite seamstress, Donna Fear, to sew a new dress or skirt. "Donna expertly makes the clothing samples we display in the store," adds Sharon. "She sews for the whole family."

Lori
Besides helping her husband with other business ventures, Lori is a busy grandmother. Admitting she "isn't a seamstress," Lori says she "did fine" making baby blankets and costumes for the kids. "I can make a nice curtain," she notes. "I've always had a creative side and I like to draw and have done my share of embroidery." Lori considers the "print" or design on fabrics to be "an art form." She loves the bright colors and bold natural designs found on fabric from Tahiti-as well as the soft, muted hues of Hawaiian vintage prints. "If you really think about it, what a person wears tells you a lot about that person," she muses. "Even in ancient times, people showed their style by using 'ohe kapala (bamboo) and wood stamps to design their kapa."

Through Kapa Fabrics, Sharon and Lori combine their Polynesian heritage with their shared joy of being creative. It's a nice fit.