neck ornament

human history

This kahoa heilala is in the style and form of garlands that would have originally been made from the sweet smelling flowers of the heilala tree (Garcinia sessilis) which is also the national flower of Tonga. Instead of using natural materials, the artist has cleverly utilised synthetic materials such as plastic grapes, ribbon, cooking clay, nylon and ribbon to produce a synthetic garland in the same style and form.

Accession number: 2015.32.1 Last Update: 5 Aug 2026
Other Name

Kahoa Heilala (Tongan)

Place
Auckland/New Zealand
Accession Number

2015.32.1

Accession Date

03 Jun 2015

Other Id

56761.1 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific

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neck ornament; kahoa heilala; 2015.32.1
neck ornament; kahoa heilala; 2015.32.1 Cultural Permissions Apply
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