Kauai History and Fishing

These new Hawaiians drew their sustenance from the land and sea around them. Establishing themselves along the North shore of Kauai, they began growing the staple crops they brought with them in their canoes and began using them for food, clothing, shelter, and medicine. In addition, there were also native plants, birds, fish, and green sea turtles around the island. They managed resources wisely, practiced masterful irrigation techniques, fished, and harvested in season.

Fishermen maintained personal and spiritual relationships with the sea by acquiring knowledge of the shore and reefs, honing their diving, spearing, and trapping skills. A successful fisherman was a highly valued asset for his entire community, and armed with knowledge and an array of implements like hooks, lines, lures, nets, traps, poisonous plants, and spears, a fisherman supplied food to the entire ohana. Successful fishermen who supplied large amounts of fish were believed to possess supernatural power to attract fish and make them multiply. Their fishing hooks or cowry shell lures became prized and passed on to heirs.

Hawaiians recognized two main classes of food: ‘ai (vegetable food) and i’a (seafood). ‘Ai consisted mainly of taro, poi, sweet potato, and breadfruit. I’a was the main source of protein with fish, and also pig, chicken, and wild birds added to the category. Seafood was eaten raw, baked, broiled, dried, and fermented. The word ‘ono (delicious) describes the wide variety of seafood that pleased their palate.

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