This presentation introduces ancient Hawaiian fishing and compares it to modern-day fishing. This project allows its viewers to see how an indigenous culture lived off of the ocean.

1. Fishing Sustainably
E Hoʻohuli ka Lima i Lalo
COM344 FAʻ17

2. OBJECTIVES:
• This project serves to highlight Hawaiian cultural
awareness by focusing mainly on fishing sustainably
and implementing Ancient Hawaiian fishing techniques.
• We plan to construct three fishing tools utilizing natural
resources such as, bamboo, hau, ʻieʻie (vine), and nīʻau
(coconut husk). By doing so, it will allow us to practice
Ancient Hawaiian fishing techniques and with our
catches (hopefully), we intend to prepare Hawaiian
dishes emphasizing the Hawaiian culture.

3. HISTORY OF HAWAIIAN
FISHING TECHNIQUES:
• In the olden days when Hawaiʻi was independently ruled by monarchs, they
enforced laws which were known as the Kapu (taboo) system. This system
instilled a set of rules of what could and could not be done by the people of
Hawaiʻi such as fishing.
• The Hawaiian people were knowledgable in observing and documenting
natural occurrences where they imposed the Kapu system to protect and
preserve the natural wildlife which allowed a period of replenishing.
• In regard to fishing, there were certain seasons where they were not
allowed to catch specific species or fish in certain areas. Punishment for
breaking the Kapu system was abolished when Queen Kaʻahumanu defied
the law by eating prohibited food with men. Her son, Liholiho refused to
carry out the punishment of killing his mother, therefore ending the back
bone of the Hawaiian society, diminishing its cultural beliefs and mana
(spiritual power).

4. ANCIENT HAWAIIAN
FISHING TOOLS:

5. FISHING SPEAR:
• Hawaiian Name: ʻŌKOHOLUA
• Background Info:
- Done during the day/night
- Kūkui nut torches used during night time in order to provide light and attract fishes in the shallow
- Mainly used in rocky ledges, shallow waters, and under water to hunt for near shore fishes
- Favored spear materials used to craft were kauila (Alphitonia ponderosa), oʻa (Colubrina oppositifolia), koaiʻe (Acacia koaia) and
uhiuhi (Mezoneuron kauaiense)
- Height ranged from 6-7ft long; normally slim and very sharp
• Procedure:
- Before the actual crafting of material, itʻs best to find a bamboo piece as straight as possible with a length of 6-7ft long
- Sand down material and cut off excess branches
- At the very top, use a sharp tool and cut diagonally making a sharp point at the top
- Once you found a perfect point, finish off with sanding down the portion that was cut
• Evaluation:
- One of the easiest of crafts to make. Putting it to use was harder than expected due to the heaviness of the spear and our lack of
experience with spear fishing.

7. CRAB POLE:
• Hawaiian Name: ĀHELE AʻAMA
• Background Info:
- Used during the day
- The poles have a “V” shape at the tip with a thin line stretching from one end to another
- The “V” shape is used to hook the eyes of aʻama crab
• Procedure:
- Aquire a bamboo that possess a “V” shape on top portion, length of 6ft or more
- If you are unable to find a bamboo that has that “V” shape, acquire a regular bamboo, slit the top portion of it, and spread the
two pieces apart. Stick an object, like a rock between the two slats and hold the bottom portion of the “V” tightly while
simultaneously wrapping hau cordage around it to keep it stable and secure.
- Sand down entire bamboo and cut off excess branches
- Cut slits parallel to each other on both sides of the “V” (this will secure the line used to snag the crab by the eye)
- String the hau through the slits and wrap around bamboo to ensure a secure line
• Evaluation:
- This craft was the second hardest to make

9. • Hawaiian Name: HĪNAʻI HOʻOMOE IʻA
• Background Info:
- Used as storage when catching fishes
- Traditionally made with aerial roots ʻieʻie roots
- Woody vine-like plant; grows along ʻōhiʻa trees; found at lower elevation (wet/ damp climates)
• Procedure:
- Gather long strips of ʻieʻie
- Strip off bark, wind in coils, and soak in water for malleableness
- Start twining in center, work outward to form the bottom surface and upward bend
- As the radials come more widely spaced, more radial warps are added to reduce the width of the inter-warp spaces and
make for closer and neater twining
• Evaluation:
- Out of the three hand-crafted tools, this was the hardest and most time consuming to construct. We had to deconstruct and
reconstruct multiple times due to the wraps not being at a consistent space as well as the ʻieʻie vines breaking because it was not
soaked enough to be flexible when bending. Time of construction took about a week and a half. As far as its purpose, it proved to
be a successful tool because it was able to hold our findings.
FISH BASKET:

12. MODERN DAY
FISHING:
• While bamboo fishing poles are still available for
use today, majority of the fishing poles are made
out of fiberglass or carbon fiber and metal.
• Spearfishing has also evolved with modern
technology, due to the fact that we have spearguns
that allow us to spearfish in deeper waters.
• As for the crab pole, it is hardly used today, only by
those who continue the tradition, due to the fact
that majority utilize crab traps
• Also, many commercial fishers use trawlers, large
boats with nets attached to the back of the boat
that are dragged to catch large quantities of fish.

13. MODERN DAY
FISHING
• Fishing has changed drastically
since the olden days, and with
modern tools comes blatant
disrespect for the natural
environment in the form of
ignorance.
• We have adopted a “take” attitude
and forget to give back to the land
or ocean, not allowing them time to
rest and rebuild their environment.
• Almost 90% of the big fishes in the
ocean are gone due to overfishing
and if this continues, there wonʻt be
any marine life left in the ocean

14. PROJECT ANALYSIS:
• Overall, this project, while time consuming, allowed
us to reflect on the fishing techniques of Ancient
Hawaiʻi and by utilizing these implements, it showed
us how they were able to incorporate sustainable
methods within their lifestyle.
• This project taught us how important sustainability is,
now more than ever, especially here in Hawaiʻi. Most
of our resources are imported from other countries,
but we feel that we should sustainably utilize the
resources that we have here, instead of relying on
external sources to provide our goods.
• In order to live sustainably, we feel that itʻs vital to
intertwine the teachings of the past with our modern
lifestyle. Our ancestors were gifted with inherent
knowledge of their home, the ʻāina, and one another,
to know how to conserve the resources from the
land and take what they need in order to prevent
wastage. The mantra they lived by is that “the land is
the chief and man is its servant,” which emphasizes
our role as humans on planet earth.

15. PROJECT ANALYSIS
• We admire the idea of incorporating seasonal
fishing the Ancient Hawaiians used and hope
that they will be taken into account so that
harsher regulations could be applied for fishing
here.
• As far as constructing our items, we used
modern day tools, which was time consuming
and difficult. Reflecting on the tools the Ancient
Hawaiians used, we can imagine how much
more difficult it must have been to craft these
tools.
• Also, we stated in our proposal that we were
planning on using our tools to catch fish/crabs
and make a Hawaiian dish from it
• Unfortunately, due to the storm weather and
the High Surf Warnings these past few
weeks, we were unable to utilize them to
their full extents :(

16. Implications for
Sustainability:
• EDUCATE community members, people in power, or just people
you come in contact with because by educating people it instills a
need for change.
• We can educate people by:
- Holding community get togethers to discuss topics revolving
around sustainability and solutions
- Holding workshops where people are able to learn about
sustainable living
- Promote Ecovillages

17. REFERENCES:
Buck, P. H. (2003). Arts and crafts of Hawaii. Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press.
Eoff , G. (2013). Knowledge Base. Retrieved November 29, 2017, from http://garyeoff.com/knowledge_base/
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Fishing Seasons. (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2017, from http://www.hawaiihistory.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ig.page&PageID=375
Importance of Fish . (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2017, from http://www.hawaiihistory.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ig.page&PageID=374
Kahaulelio, A. D. (n.d.). Ka Oihana Lawaia – Customs of the Fisher-people. Retrieved November 29, 2017, from
http://www.ulukau.org/elib/cgi-bin/library?e=d-0maly1-000Sec--11en-50-20-frameset-search-crab%2Bpole-1-
010escapewin&a=d&d=D0.5.18.32&toc=0
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http://www2.hawaii.edu/~dennisk/texts/introfishing.html
N. (Ed.). (n.d.). Freycinetia arborea. Retrieved November 29, 2017, from http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Freycinetia_arborea
United States congressional serial set (Vol. 4391). (2013). Memphis: Books LLC. Retrieved from
https://books.google.com/books?id=RvQ3AQAAIAAJ&pg=PA414&lpg=PA414&dq=ahele
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Yuen, N. (2011, November 2). Revisiting the Manoa Cliffs Native Forest Restoration Project. Retrieved November 29, 2017, from
http://hawaiianforest.com/wp/revisiting-the-manoa-cliffs-native-forest-restoration-project/