Hawaii is a beautiful place that’s full of rich culture and a fascinating history that extends back thousands of years. Nowadays, millions of people visit Hawaii each year, but a lot of those visitors aren’t familiar with the history of the Hawaiian people or the origins of their traditions. One of the most popular activities for Hawaiian residents and tourists alike is participating in charter fishing in Hawaii, but the methods that are used today are a lot different from many of the fishing practices of ancient Hawaiians.
Ancient Hawaiian culture
Traditional Hawaiian fishermen relied heavily on astronomical factors to plan their fishing activities and techniques. They observed that the phase of the moon had an impact on tidal activity and planned their fishing based on lunar phases. Ancient Hawaiians also made strong connections with the ocean, fish and other wildlife on a spiritual level. Because of the resources that the ocean provided (and still provides) to Hawaiians, deep respect and gratitude for the ocean and ocean creatures is ingrained in the culture.
Fishing techniques
Ancient Hawaiians used several different fishing techniques depending on the type of fish they were hunting. Hawaiians typically used hook and line fishing to catch sharks, octopus and some other types of fish. Hooks were made out of sharpened bone, pearls, turtle shells, wood and ivory and baited with shrimp, fish or crab meat to entice fish.
Spears were also used by ancient Hawaiians for fishing. At night, fishermen could use torches to attract fish to the light and then spear them when they approached. Often, fishermen used spears to catch fish as they waded through shallow water on rocky ledges, but some fishermen swam underwater and used their spears to catch fish.
The most popular Hawaiian fishing method was net fishing. Ancient Hawaiians used plant fibers to make their nets, which they spread out in shallow water to catch a lot of fish all at once. In many cases, Hawaiian fishermen used purple dye produced by a red hibiscus plant called the Koki’o to make their nets invisible to fish underwater.
Over time, Hawaiians developed aquaculture practices to maintain a reliable supply of food during seasons when fish were sparse. Hawaiians created fish ponds enclosed by stones that allowed smaller fish to come in but prevented larger fish from getting out. When the tide came in, these fish ponds would become more populated and increase the food resources to which Hawaiians had access.
Charter fishing in Hawaii
If you want to find out more about charter fishing in Hawaii, reach out to the team at Sea Wife Charters. We’ve been offering charter fishing in Hawaii since 1982, and we continue to deliver incredible experiences to our guests. Whether you are looking for a great way to bond with your friends and family members or you want to try your hand at ocean fishing with other anglers, we are confident that you will be happy with your charter experience. You can learn more about our charters and schedule a reservation by giving us a call today.