Vintage Poi Pounder_Silent Auction

The poi pounder, or pohaku k‘ui poi, was an essential tool in ancient Hawaiian life. It has persisted over time as an enduring artifact, combining innovation with the narrative of agriculture in Hawai‘i over time. Taro fields, or lo‘i kalo, provided sustenance to the people through the cultivation of kalo, which was harvested, steamed in an earthen oven, or imu, peeled and pounded into poi. As the tradition of pounding poi continues today, the poi pounder remains a silent representation of history and strength.