For beating the softened inner bark of the paper mulberry tree for the production of »kapa« barkcloth. The lengths of fabric derived from this felting process were used as a kind of mattress and for clothing. Particularly beautiful and finely-crafted pieces testified to the wealth of a family and were highly prized objects. The production of kapa in Hawaii was women's work; the introduction of European fabrics led to its demise. This art / handcraft was subsequently resumed a few decades ago.