This rare photo featuring a Hawaiian man participating in a night fishing session with the help of a kukui-nut torch, which is a torch made of kukui nuts wrapped in leaves on top of a pole and set on fire. The light from the torches played a necessary role in attracting fish to the fisherman so he could more easily spear them.
Hawaiians would use spears along rocky ledges and shallow waters to catch fish. The land and sea played a highly spiritual role for ancient Hawaiians. They believed in living in balance with their environment and conserved any resources, such as plants and animals they came into contact with.
Fishing was so important to the Hawaiians because it was their main source of protein in their diets. Fisherman held extensive knowledge about the Hawaiian terrain and environment along the shore and reefs. In their culture, a skilled fisherman was highly valued in the social hierarchy.
