Antique Hawaiian Poi Pounder Volcanic Rock Pestle

This piece was a surprise! It is a traditional Hawaiian knobbed stone pestle used to prepare poi, a Hawaiian staple. Carved from porous grey volcanic basalt, or Hawaiian stone (pōhaku), this hefty tool was designed to pound cooked taro root (kalo) into a paste called paiai, which would then be thinned with water to make the nutritious poi. 
 
We are not sure how this made its way into our family. It could have been a gift of Martha Gerbode, a descendent of the Alexander family who travelled to Hawaii in 1832 as missionaries and eventually became one of the big five families, their fortune made in sugar cane plantations. Alternatively, it could have come from the Burr sisters who did  two world tours in the 1920s and 1930s as single women and serious collectors… 
 
The base is still grainy, suggesting it was never used. It has no visible cracks, stains, or other damage. 
 
H 7 1/2” x Diameter 5”
5.39 lbs (2.45 kg)
 
Disclaimer: We have tried to make sure colors shown in photos are representative of the real colors of each item. We have tried to identify all imperfections in descriptions, but we may have missed some. If you are unhappy with your purchase, let us know.