Hiapo

Definition

Hiapo refers to the barkcloth made by the indigenous people of Niue Island in Polynesia. It is created through a labor-intensive process involving beating tree bark until it becomes soft fabric-like material.

Related terms

Tapa: A similar type of barkcloth made in other Polynesian cultures, such as Samoa and Tonga.

Kapa: The Hawaiian term for barkcloth, which is also made through a similar process.

Māori: The indigenous people of New Zealand who have their own tradition of making barkcloth called "whariki."