Subsistence and Trade

In Kanaka Maoli culture, the people relied mostly on the resources of the ocean. It wasn't until much later in Hawaiian society that a highly efficient agricultural system was established. The most important food in the ancient Hawaiian culture was taro. This starchy root can be mashed into poi and often resembled rice paddies. Breadfruit and bananas were also thought of as important food in Hawaiian culture along with the meat Western explorers brought to the islands in the early 1800s.


In the late 1800s, there was a massive shift from the rural subsistence to wage labor. Today, only 23% of the country's population work in agriculture. Many of the Maoli people are involved in service professions such as police officers, firemen, and bus drivers. Other common professions include port jobs and seafaring.