Hawaiian Fish Hooks Fabric byhnldesigns

So impressed was explorer, Capt. James Cook by Hawaiian fishermen and the strength and neatness of the fishhooks they fashioned from natural materials that he made note of it: “Considering the materials of which these hooks are made ... we found them upon trial, much superior to our own.” These fishhooks that Cook saw were the result of at least one thousand years of Hawaiian development and refinement. They were visually pleasing, with smooth, clean symmetrical shapes and perfectly suited for their intended purpose: catching fish. Individual preference, competitiveness and rituals associated with fishing suggest each fisherman made his own fishhooks. Even today, anglers hesitate to show their hooks and lures to competing fishermen. The appearance of the hook was important to early Hawaiians, because they recognized fish as an integral part of nature and worthy of respect. It would be insulting to fish with a carelessly made hook. Therefore, much patience and skill were invested in making strong, neat-appearing hooks, which would ensure success in fishing. Fishhooks varied in size from the smallest bone hook of a half-inch long to the large wooden shark hooks of eight inches. Some had barbs to hold struggling fish fast, and some barbs were used to prevent the bait from slipping off. Pig, dog, bird bones and pearl and turtle shell were used for smaller hooks, but human bone was preferred for larger hooks. The pearl shell used to make fishhooks came from the pearl oyster, which was only found in certain locations. Pearl Harbor, once known as Pearl River, was named for a pearl oyster, Pinctada radiata, which once lived there in great numbers and was the major source of pearl shell for early Hawaiians. The raw material was cut with a coral saw, and holes were drilled in the bone or shell blank with a shell-pointed pump drill. It was then shaped with coral files and finished with sea urchin spine files. The Hawaiian fisherman considered his fishhooks to be one of his most prized possessions, and they were carefully cleaned and stored in containers after use.