Mechanized Processing of Lauhala

Abstract

Lauhala weaving is one of the leading handicrafts in the Territory of Hawaii. Leaves of the Pandanus, or hala tree, are used as the weaving material and are processed by traditonal hand method s, which are very laborious. The Industrial Research Advisory Council requested that an investigation be made of the feasibility of mechanizing the processing of lauhala. It was thought that mechanized processing would lessen the drudgery and time spent in hand processing, reduce the cost per strip of lauhala, and enable the weaver to produce a more uniform finished product at lower cost to him. This report provides details for equipment for flattening and stripping lauhala.