On 26 January 1779, the Hawaiian high chief Kalani‘ōpu‘u took off this cloak and draped it over the shoulders of Captain James Cook. He placed the mahiole (feathered helmet) on Cook’s head and laid several other cloaks at his feet. His people brought four large pigs and other offerings of food.
Only three weeks after this great honour and display of hospitality, due to tragic misunderstandings with the Hawaiian people, Cook was killed.
The cloak and helmet were both taken to England and acquired by Sir Ashton Lever for his private museum. They eventually changed hands and were acquired by William Bullock, the owner of another private museum.
At the sale of Bullock’s Museum in London in 1819, they were part of a group of items purchased by Charles Winn. The collection was acquired by Winn’s grandson, Lord St Oswald. In 1912, Lord St Oswald unexpectedly presented the entire collection to New Zealand.
‘ahu ‘ula (feathered cloak), late 1700s, plant fibre and feathers, Hawai‘i, gift of Lord St Oswald, 1912