Domestic and Wild Animals of Hawaii
From Hawaiian Antiquities by David Malo, 1903.
From: 1903 C.E. To: 1903 C.E.
Note: This article has been excerpted from a larger work in the public domain and shared here due to its historical value. It may contain outdated ideas and language that do not reflect TOTA’s opinions and beliefs.
The Domestic and Wild Animals
From Hawaiian Antiquities by David Malo, 1903.
It is not known by what means the animals found here in Hawaii reached these shores, whether the ancients brought them, whether the smaller animals were not indigenous, or where indeed the wild animals came from.
If they brought these little animals, the question arises why they did not also bring animals of a larger size.
Perhaps it was because of the small size of the canoes in which they made the voyage, or perhaps because they were panic-stricken with war at the time they embarked, or because they were in fear of impending slaughter, and for that reason they took with them only the smaller animals.
The hog was the largest animal in Hawaii nei. Next in size was the dog; then came tame fowls, animals of much smaller size. But the wild fowls of the wilderness, how came they here? If this land was of volcanic origin, would they not have been destroyed by fire?
The most important animal then was the pig (puaa), of which there were many varieties. If the hair was entirely black, it was called hiwa paa; if entirely white, haole; if it was of a brindled color all over, it was ehu; if striped lengthwise, it was olomea.
If reddish about the hams the pig was a hulu-iwi; if whitish about its middle it was called a hahei; if the bristles were spotted, the term kiko-kiko was applied.
A shoat was called poa (robbed); if the tusks were long it was a pu-ko'a. A boar was termed kea, a young pig was termed ohi.
Likewise in regard to dogs, they were classified according to the color of their hair; and so with fowls, they were classified and named according to the character of their feathers. There were also wild fowl.
The names of the wild fowl are as follows, the nene (goose, Bernicla Sandvicensis). The nene, which differs from all other birds, is of the size of the (muscovy) duck, has spotted feathers, long legs and a long neck. In its moulting season, when it comes down from the mountains, is the time when the bird-catchers try to capture it in the uplands, the motive being to obtain the feathers, which are greatly valued for making kahilis. Its body is excellent eating.
The alala (Corvus hawaiiensis) is another species, with a smaller body, about the size perhaps of the female of the domestic fowl. Its feathers are black, its beak large, its body is used for food. This bird will sometimes break open the shell of a water-gourd (hue-wai). Its feathers are useful in kahili-making. This bird is captured by means of the pole or of the snare.
The pueo; or owl, (Brachyotus gallapagoensis) and the io resemble each other; but the pueo has the larger head. Their bodies are smaller in size to that of the alala. Their plumage is variegated (striped), eyes large (and staring), claws sharp like those of a cat. They prey upon mice and small fowl. Their feathers are worked into kahilis of the choicest descriptions. The pueo is regarded as a deity and is worshipped by many. These birds are caught by means of the bird-pole (kia) by the use of the covert, or by means of the net.
The moho is a bird that does not fly, but only moves about in thickets because its feathers are not ample enough (to give it the requisite wing-power). It has beautiful eyes. This bird is about the size of the alala; it is captured in its nesting-hole and its flesh is used as food. This bird does not visit (or swim in) the sea, but it lives only in the woods and coverts, because (if it went into the ocean), its feathers would become heavy and water-soaked.
I will not enumerate the small wild fowl, some of them of the size of young chickens, and some still smaller: the o-u is as large as a small chicken, with feathers of a greenish color; it is delicious eating and is captured by means of bird-lime.
Another bird is the omao, in size about like the o-u. Its feathers are black, it is good eating and is captured by means of bird-lime or with the snare.
The o-o and the mamo are birds that have a great resemblance to each other. They are smaller than the o-u, have black feathers, sharp beaks, and are used as food. Their feathers are made up into the large royal kahilis. Those in the axillae and about the tail are very choice, of a golden color, and are used in making the feather cloaks called ahu-itla which are worn by (the aliis as well as by) warriors as insignia in time of battle (and on state occasions of ceremony or display.—TRANSLATOR.) They were also used in the making of leis (necklaces and wreaths) for the adornment of the female chiefs and women of rank, and for the decoration of the makahiki-idol. (See Chap. XXXVI.) These birds have many uses, and they are captured by means of bird-lime and the pole.
The i-i-wi—the feathers of this bird are red, and used in making ahu-ula. Its beak is long and its flesh is good for food. It is taken by means of bird-lime. The apa-pane and the akihi-polena also have red feathers. The ula is a bird with black feathers, but its beak, eyes, and feet are red. It sits sidewise on its nest (he punana moe aoao kona). This bird is celebrated in song. While brooding over her eggs she covered them with her wings, but did not sit directly over them. The u-a is a bird that resembles the o-u. The a-ko-he-kohe is a bird that nests on the ground.
The mu is a bird with yellow feathers.
The ama-kihi and akihi-a-loa have yellow plumage; they are taken by means of bird-lime. Their flesh is fine eating.
The ele-paio (chasiempis): this bird was used as food. The i-ao resembles the moho; in looking it directs its eyes backwards. In this list comes the kaka-wahie (the wood-splitter). The ki is the smallest of these birds. They all have their habitat in the woods and do not come down to the shore.
The following birds make their resort in the salt and fresh water-ponds. The alae (mud-hen, Gallinula chloropus) has blue-black feathers, yellow feet, red forehead, but one species is white about the forehead (Fulica alae.) This bird is regarded as a deity, and has many worshippers. Its size is nearly that of the domestic fowl, and its flesh is good eating (gamey, but very tough). Men capture it by running it down or by pelting it with stones.
The koloa (muscovy duck, Anas superciliosa), has spotted feathers, a bill broad and flat, and webbed feet. Hunters take it by pelting it with stones or clubbing it. It is fine eating. The aukuu, (heron, Ardea sacra), has bluish feathers and a long neck and beak. In size it is about the same as the pueo, or owl. This bird makes great depredations by preying upon the mullet (in ponds.) The best chance of capturing it would be to pelt it with stones.
The kukuluaeo (stilts one of the waders), has long legs and its flesh is sweet. It may be captured by pelting it with stones.
The kioea (one of the waders) is excellent eating.
The kolea (plover, Charadrius fitlvus). It is delicious eating. In order to capture it, the hunter calls it to him by whistling with his fingers placed in his mouth, making a note in imitation of that of the bird itself.
The following birds are ocean-divers (luu-kai): The ua-u (Procellaria alba). Its breast is white, its back blue-black; it has a long bill of which the upper mandible projects beyond the lower. It is delicious eating. Its size is that of the io. The kiki, the ao, and the lio-lio resemble the uau, but their backs are bluish. Their flesh is used as food. They are captured with nets and lines.
The o-u-o-u: This bird is black all over; il is of a smaller size than the uau and is fair eating; it is caught by means of a line. The puha-aka-kai-ea is smaller than the o-u-o-u; its breast is white, its back black; it is caught with a net and is good for food.
The koae (tropic bird, "boatswain bird," "marlin spike," Phaeton rubicauda). This bird is white (with a pinkish tinge) all over; it has long tail-feathers which are made into kahilis; it is of the same size as the u-a-u, and is fit for food (very fishy). The o-i-o (Anous stolidtis) has speckled feathers like the ne-ne; it is of the same size as the u-a-u and is good eating. All of these birds dwell in the mountains by night, but during the day they fly out to sea to fish for food.
I will now mention the birds that migrate (that are of the firmament, mai ke lewa mai lakou.) The ka-upu: Its feathers are black throughout, its beak large, its size that of a turkey.
The na-u-ke-wai is as large as the ka-upu. Its front and wings are white, its back is black. The a is as large as the ka-u-pu, its feathers entirely white. The moli is a bird of about the size of the ka-u-pu. The iwa is a large bird of about the size of the ka-u-pu: its feathers, black mixed with gray, are used for making kahilis. The plumage of these birds is used in decorating the Makahiki idol. They are mostly taken at Kaula and Nihoa, being caught by hand and their flesh is eaten. The noio is a small bird of the size of the plover, its forehead is white. The kola (Sterna panaya) resemble the noio. These are all eatable, they are sea-birds.
The following are the flying things (birds, manu) that are not eatable: the o-pea-pea or bat, the pinao or dragon-fly, the okai (a butterfly), the lepe-lepe-ahina (a moth or butterfly), the pu-lele-hua (a butterfly), the nalo or common house-fly, the nalo-paka or wasp. None of these creatures are fit to be eaten. The uhini or grasshopper, however, is used as food.
The following are wild creeping things: the mouse or rat, (iole), the makaula (a species of dark lizard), the elelu, or cockroach, the poki-poki (sow-bug), the koe (earth-worm), the lo (a species of long black bug, with sharp claws), the aha or earwig, the puna-wele-wele or spider, the lalana (a species of spider), the nuhe or caterpillar, the poko (a species of worm, or caterpillar), the nao-nao or ant, the mu (a brown-black bug or beetle that bores into wood), the kua-paa (a worm that eats vegetables), the uku-poo or head-louse, the uku-kapa, or body-louse.
Whence come these little creatures? From the soil no doubt; but who knows?
The recently imported animals from foreign lands, which came in during the time of Kamehameha I, and as late as the present time, that of Kamehameha III, are the following: the cow (bipi, from beef), a large animal, with horns on its head; its flesh and its milk are excellent food.
The horse (lio), a large animal. Men sit upon his back and ride; he has no horns on his head. The donkey (hoki), and the mule (piula); they carry people on their backs. The goat (kao), and the sheep (hipa), which make excellent food. The cat (po-poki, or o-au) and the monkey (keko), the pig (puaa) and the dog (ilio). These are animals imported from foreign countries.
Of birds brought from foreign lands are the turkey, or palahu, the koloa, or duck, the parrot or green-bird (manu omaomao), and the domestic fowl (moa), which makes excellent food.
There are also some flying things that are not good for food: such as the mosquito (makika), the small roach (elelu liilii), the large flat cock-roach (elelu-papa) , the flea (uku-lele, jumping louse). The following are things that crawl: the rabbit or iole-lapaki, which makes excellent food, the rat or iole-nui, the mouse or iole-liilii, the centipede (kanapi), and the moo-niho-awa (probably the scorpion, for there are no serpents in Hawaii). These things are late importations; the number of such things will doubtless increase in the future.
Malo, David. Hawaiian Antiquities: (Moolelo Hawaii). Translated by Nathaniel Bright Emerson, Hawaiian Gazette Co., 1903.
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