In Orokolo, hohao were carved by individual men, in contrast to hevehe masks that were constructed by groups of important older men. The carver was known as Mai Evera Haera-the man with the delicate hand. (Beier & Kiki 1970:27)

The myth associated with this hohao is Maria Ere. It is recounted in detail by Ulli Beier and Albert Kiki. "The eye design on this hohao is desceibed as piku ove, shadow (or spirit) of the wordworm...that bores big holes into breadfruit trees. The small face at the bottom, below the navel design, represents Maria Ere's spirit or soul, 'the one who rides at the back.' A man is said to have two souls: Ove (shadow) is weak, but Hae (the core) is strong. Hae, the fighting part of a man's soul, is the one who rides at the back, protecting him. In the myth, Maria Ere made an image of his own Hae from a Lalare tree." (Beier & Kiki 1970:8)

Provenance:
Todd Barlin, Sydney 2009
Michael Hamson, Palos Verdes Estates

Publishing History:
Ulli Beier and Albert Maori Kiki. Hohao: The Uneasy Survival of an Art from the Papuan Gulf. Melbourne: Thomas Nelson Limited, 1970: 8-9.