The evolution of the Hawaiian poi industry (1810-1893): A story of the Hawaiian people

Abstract

Poi, a Hawaiian staple since before foreign contact, has remained relevant over time immemorial. While it is a distinguished food item in Hawaiian culture, its history, especially during the Hawaiian Kingdom (1810-1893), is not widely known. This thesis looks to explore the poi industry during said period of time and highlights three areas of change: (1) the Poi Industry’s Establishment, (2) Foreign Competition with Poi, and (3) Government Legislation and Poi. This analysis uses Hawaiian language newspapers, historical documents, and other sources to examine how the poi industry changed over time and how that change impacted the Hawaiian people.