Post #658532 by TikiTomD on Mon, Nov 12, 2012 6:52 AM

Sven,

Supplemental to the information already posted by DC, I came across this description of the hotel lobby mural in an online publication, Tiki Fine Art compiled by DjF du Marais...

Herb Kane lived in Kona not far from the hotel. Bob Van Dorpe, the first Mai-Kai General Manager, brought Herb Kane into many of his design projects across Polynesia. Bob and his wife, Puanani or Pua as she is known (aka “Greta”, former Mai-Kai entertainer), remained close friends of Kane through the years. Bob and Herb both encouraged Pua in her pursuit to resurrect the lost ancient Polynesian art of kapa or bark cloth making. After years of experimenting, she succeeded in making kapa indistinguishable from the finest museum specimens, and, in 1990, Pua Van Dorpe was named a “Living Treasure of Hawai’i.” I refer you to Swanky for any additional details.

Herb Kane did a painting of Pua Van Dorpe making kapa cloth...

-Tom