Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
Native Hawaiians descend from the Polynesian people that migrated from Marquesas Islands and Tahiti. The Native Hawaiian culture is somewhat unique in that it was a matriarchal society, with rank and status descending through the mother’s line rather than through the males of the family. Native Hawaiians were excellent cloth makers, with particular skill in using feathers to make skirts, leis, capes, etc. Since they were an island people, the Native Hawaiians invented and utilized many tools to help them take advantage of the natural resources that surrounded them. While shell tools are present in the continental United States, the use of shell as tools in Hawaii is significantly higher. Lava stone, called basalt, also features prominently in their tool use. Archaeologists also find quite a lot of tools and artifacts that were used in fishing.