Overview

• Hawaiian stone tools give us an idea of the history and development of early Hawaii. Hawaii is considered part of Polynesia, which also includes Easter Island and Tahiti. In recent times, Hawaiian stone artifacts have become collectibles. Some of these tools were made and used as late as the 20th century, but today they are mainly for show or for understanding Hawaiian history.
  
  

Poi Pounder

• The poi pounder was an important tool for the Hawaiian culture as it was used to make poi, one of their food staples. The taro root was crushed and pounded into a paste called poi, hence the name poi pounder. The poi pounders came in different sizes and resembled a bell.
  
  

Mortar and Pestle

• Mortars and pestles go together. The pestle is the thick stick-shaped tool and the mortar is the bowl. Hawaiians made these out of different stones but a popular choice was basalt. The mortars and pestles were used to crush seaweed, nuts, leaves and other products used for food, dyes and medicines.
  
  

Fish Lures

• The ancient Hawaiians were skilled at fishing and they used whatever materials were available to make tools for catching fish. They created stone lures that resemble loafs of bread and coffee beans. These lures helped them catch many types of fish and squid, which was a favorite food.
  
  

Adzes

• Adzes were the Hawaiian equivalent of knives made out of stone. The early Hawaiians had no access to metals or ores, so they had to make their knives or adzes out of stone. The stone commonly used for this was basalt. Adzes were made in many different sizes and were used for a wide range of tasks, from making canoes to carving idols.