Hawaiian, likely Kona coast region
Early 19th century
Basalt (volcanic)
Height: 5 1/8 in. (13 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi
The kukui nut (Aleurites moluccanus) was among the most functionally and ceremonially significant plants in Hawaiian culture, yielding oil for light, medicine, dye, and ritual use. Pounders made specifically for processing kukui nuts are documented but uncommon in the archaeological record. This example dates to the early nineteenth century and originates from a private collection on the Kona coast of Hawaiʻi Island.
The piece was fashioned from an existing knobbed poi pounder, reworked in basalt to serve a distinct processing function. The bilateral knob form, characteristic of a specific poi pounder typology, has been adapted here with the waist retained and the ends modified for nut processing. Dense volcanic basalt was the preferred material for Hawaiian stone tools, chosen for its hardness and availability across the island chain.
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Hawaiian, likely Kona coast region
Early 19th century
Basalt (volcanic)
Height: 5 1/8 in. (13 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi
The kukui nut (Aleurites moluccanus) was among the most functionally and ceremonially significant plants in Hawaiian culture, yielding oil for light, medicine, dye, and ritual use. Pounders made specifically for processing kukui nuts are documented but uncommon in the archaeological record. This example dates to the early nineteenth century and originates from a private collection on the Kona coast of Hawaiʻi Island.
The piece was fashioned from an existing knobbed poi pounder, reworked in basalt to serve a distinct processing function. The bilateral knob form, characteristic of a specific poi pounder typology, has been adapted here with the waist retained and the ends modified for nut processing. Dense volcanic basalt was the preferred material for Hawaiian stone tools, chosen for its hardness and availability across the island chain.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
