Prehistory of the Saddle Region of Hawai‘i Island

Abstract

This account synthesizes what is known of the prehistory of the Saddle region of Hawaiʻi Island, focusing on bird-catching, cross-island travel routes, and the production of basalt and volcanic glass tools. The synthesis is based on three main types of evidence: 1) archaeological survey and excavation in the Saddle, 2) nineteenth-century accounts by Western travelers; and 3) testimony given to the Hawaiian Kingdom Boundary Commission in the latter half of the nineteenth century, which often provides information that can be projected back to the prehistoric era.