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I took a class when in school at the University of Hawaii and learned a few practices of the native Hawaiians which impressed me.
-Fish ponds:
Native Hawaiians would divide an island so each Ohana (family or tribe) had a pie slice, comprised of all the ecosystems from the mountains to the sea.
They built fish ponds at the sea shore and would put grates at the end of the streams feeding into the ponds.
That way small fish would go into the pond, grow fat in the protected area, and be too big to go back upstream. It was easy to just drag a net and catch as many fish as needed. (I remember one myth involving a friendly fish who would help lead other fish into the nets.)
-Changing a desert:
I also learned about how when native Hawaiians cared for land that was previously a desert by planting trees and bringing water to them, the ecosystem eventually changed so that there was no more desert. The rainfall actually changed to suit the trees. Cool! (So to speak, lol)
-Renewable feathers:
Hawaiian royalty wore decorated feathered capes. When the feathers were collected, those who did so would put a certain sap on the tree branches so the birds would stick to it. That way they could take a feather or two, clean the bird's feet, and let it go again.
Jessica
-Fish ponds:
Native Hawaiians would divide an island so each Ohana (family or tribe) had a pie slice, comprised of all the ecosystems from the mountains to the sea.
They built fish ponds at the sea shore and would put grates at the end of the streams feeding into the ponds.
That way small fish would go into the pond, grow fat in the protected area, and be too big to go back upstream. It was easy to just drag a net and catch as many fish as needed. (I remember one myth involving a friendly fish who would help lead other fish into the nets.)
-Changing a desert:
I also learned about how when native Hawaiians cared for land that was previously a desert by planting trees and bringing water to them, the ecosystem eventually changed so that there was no more desert. The rainfall actually changed to suit the trees. Cool! (So to speak, lol)
-Renewable feathers:
Hawaiian royalty wore decorated feathered capes. When the feathers were collected, those who did so would put a certain sap on the tree branches so the birds would stick to it. That way they could take a feather or two, clean the bird's feet, and let it go again.
Jessica
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