Koʻi (stone adze head)

Summary: 
Koʻi or stone adze was an important tool used for everyday life of kānaka Hawaiʻi.
Description: 

Hawaiian stone adze. Length: 8 1/2 inches, Weight (at blade): 2 3/4 inches, Thickness (at widest point): 1 1/2 inches, Color; Earthly Gray, Finish: Adze contains many chips but still remains in good shape., Weight: 2 lb. 1.2 oz. Hawaiian adzes were used in carving out canoes and required great skill in their deployment. Koʻi was lashed to a wooden handle, mostly Hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus) because of the wood's ability to absorb the force of constant use. Koʻi was lashed using cordage made from the fibers of ʻolonā (Touchardia latifolia) or niu (Cocos nucifera).

Cultural Narrative: 

 The koʻi (stone adze) was the most important tool for kānaka.  The art of making the adze was handed down from generation to generation.  This class of stoneworkers were considered highly skilled.  Koʻi was used to carve canoes from trees, notched posts and rafters for housing, hollowed out bowls, and gave form to their gods (Young, 1999).   The adze quarry at the top of Mauna Kea was well known for producing adze.  “Adze were shaped into a rough form at the quarry and then carried down the mountain to be polished and sharpened with sand and water on a sharpening stone.” (Young, 1999)    In canoe making it was said that there were many different types of koʻi used in the creation of canoes.  Brigham mentions “ 

Location Description: 

Hawaii