Kauai History and Ahupua’a

Private property was unknown to ancient Hawaiians, but they did follow a complex system of land division. A whole island (mokupuni) was divided into several moku, usually in the shape of a wedge and running from the mountain crest to shore. Each moku was divided into ahupua’a, narrower wedge-shaped land sections also running from the mountains to the sea. The size of the ahupua’a depended on the resources of the area, with poorer agricultural regions split into larger ahupua’a to compensate for the relative lack of natural resources. Each ahupua’a contained the resources they needed, from fish and salt near the ocean, to fertile land for farming taro in the midlands, to koa and other trees growing in upslope areas. Hawaiians shared and traded fish for other foods or for wood to build canoes and houses. Specialized knowledge and resources peculiar to a small area were also shared among ahupua’a.

Stewardship of the land and its resources was formalized through the kapu system. The kapu (taboo) placed restrictions on fishing certain species during specific seasons, on gathering and replacing certain plants, and on many aspects of social interaction as well. In this way, the community maintained a sustainable lifestyle. The ahupua’a was a self-sustaining unit that extended elements of Hawaiian spirituality into the natural landscape, and in the activities of daily and seasonal life. By sharing resources and constantly working within the rhythms of their natural environment, Hawaiians enjoyed abundance and a quality lifestyle. This lifestyle also encouraged a high level of artistic achievement in crafts like Hawaiian kapa, featherwork, competitive sport, dance, and chant.