Hā lawaiʻa (stone sinker)
Summary:
Hā lawaiʻa (stone sinker) was used to sink fishing apparatuses made to catch fish, turtles and squid.Description:
Lava Rock. Length: 5 inches, Width: 3 3/4 inches, Thickness: 2 1/2 inches (at widest point), Surface: Porous, Weight: 1 lb. 2.0 oz.
Cultural Narrative:
There are many different Hawaiian terms for stone sinker; Pōhaku (former word); kēpau (modern). Also: hā, hā lawaiʻa; pākā (on deep-sea line); pōhākialoa, pōhākioloa (on nets); pōhaku lūheʻe, ʻiole, papa, puʻukuʻua (rare) (on octopus lures). Kinds of stone used for octopus-lure sinkers: hāwaʻe, naninui, palaʻā, papa, pūlewa, waimano, ka-ua-ʻula, komana. (Pukui, 1991). Fishing was a big part of Hawaiian culture, hence the attention to naming practices and description in the language and specificity of terms.