Honai is a traditional house of the people of the Central Papua and Highland Papua, particularly the Dani.[1] Honai has a simple, round-shaped structure with small doors and no windows. There are also rectangular-shaped houses known as Ebe'ai (Female Honai). The height of the house is about 2.5 meters, and is divided into two parts: the lower floor and the upper floor. The lower floor is usually used for sleeping, while the upper floor is used for daily activities such as eating, relaxing, and crafting. In the middle of the lower floor, there is a hipere (hearth) used for cooking or warming the body.[2]
Honai has a small structure that intends to provide warmth and ease its owners to move around. There are three types of honai: honai (for males), ebai (for females), and wamai (for animals).[2] These three names originate from the base word "ai," which means house. Honai comes from the combination of the words "hun/hon," meaning male, ebai comes from the word ebe meaning female, and wamai comes from the word wam, meaning pig.[3]
- ^ Giyarto, Giyarto (2018). Selayang Pandang Papua. Klaten: Intan Perwira. pp. 41–42. ISBN 978-979-28-2501-5.
- ^ a b Utami, Rizky (2021). Ensiklopedia Rumah-Rumah Adat Nusantara. Bandung: CV. Angkasa. p. 133. ISBN 978-623-340-133-3.
- ^ "SUKU BANGSA DANI". Manfasramdi. 2023-01-08. Retrieved 2024-02-05.