Walled Fish Traps of Pearl Harbor. 



33 



It is among the fisherfolk that we find superstitions most preva- 

 lent today, and many Hawaiian fishermen are still as punctilious in 

 the offerings of "first-fruits" as they were formerly. When a Ha- 

 waiian makes a new net, the first object drawn up, be it fish, sea- 

 weed or pebble, is offered to Kuula with a prayer to insure the luck 

 of the net. Formerly, and in isolated cases today, the first fish of 

 the catch was brought ashore and dedicated to Kuula, the ceremony 

 as now observed being a simple offering generally accompanied by 

 a prayer and varying according to the locality and the individual. 



FIG. lO. NORTH WALL OF PAKTLE, LOOKING WEST. 



At Hammer Point above the beach and in line with the north 

 and south walls of the Pakule is an iimi or underground oven 

 called "Koa" (Figs, i and 1 1 ) . Koa is the name of a small walled 

 enclosure or platform, numerous examples of which are scattered 

 around the coasts of these islands, where the fish are offered to 

 Kuula. This Museum is fortunate in having in its emplo}^ as a 

 janitor a Hawaiian fisherman who lived for many years near 

 Puuloa, and through him mo.st of the native information was 

 gleaned. The Pakule and the land at Hammer Point enclosed 

 by the fence and the house (see Fig. i ) were tabu to Kuula and 



Oc. p.. B. p. B. M.. Vol. IV, No. 3.-3. [2O9] 



