Pōhaku kuʻi ʻai (poi pounder)

Summary: 
Pōhaku kuʻi ʻai or poi pounder is a stone tool used primarily with a papa kuʻi ʻai (poi board) to prepare poi or paʻi ʻai by mashing traditional starch crops such as kalo (taro), uala (sweet potato), or ulu (breadfruit) with water.
Description: 

Poi Pounder. Height: 8 3/4 inches, Weight: 4 lb. 12.4 oz., Circumference: 14 1/4 inches Diameter: 4 1/2 inches, Circumference (neck): 5 1/2 inches, Diameter (neck): 1 1/4 inches. This pounder has a thin neck. There are small white spots at the bottom, and some small brown spots at the top.

The parts of the pōhaku kuʻi ʻai are: pōheoheo (head of the pōhaku), kūʻau (handle or shaft), kaʻe (edge or rim of the bottom), mole (bottom/underside of pōhaku).

Cultural Narrative: 

Pohaku kuʻi ʻai is a stone food pounder used to prepare traditional staple foods crops.  Primarily made from Basalt stone you can describe the pōhaku kuʻi ʻai as ʻelekū pōhaku (porus to semi-porous) or ʻalā pōhaku (smooth with little to no blemishes).   The pōhaku kuʻi ʻai is used together with the papa kuʻi ʻai (poi board) in food preparation.  Both the pōhaku and papa kuʻi ʻai were essential to the life of a kānaka.  Kalo (taro), ʻuala (sweet potato), and ulu (breadfruit) were plentiful, depending on their environmental and agricultural conditions, and these starches are what provided the primary sustenance for the people of each ahupuaʻa (land district).  

Location Description: 

Hawaii