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Agroecology of pre-contact Hawaiian dryland farming: the spatial extent, yield and social impact of Hawaiian breadfruit groves in Kona, Hawai'i [1]

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Date: 2014-09-01

Dryland, or rainfed, agricultural systems, some covering scores of square kilometers, were the dominant source of food on the Island of Hawai'i at the time of European contact and a central part of the pre-historic economy (Ladefoged et al., 2009). The uneven distribution of climate and soil resources across the archipelago led to differential agricultural opportunities, levels of food surplus and, consequently, population densities and political trajectories (Kirch, 1990, Kirch, 1994, Kirch, 2007, Kirch, 2010, Kirch and O'Day, 2003, Kirch et al., 2012, Ladefoged et al., 2008, Ladefoged and Graves, 2008). Kirch et al., 2012, Graves et al., 2010, and others demonstrate the coupled nature of agricultural resource intensity and political hierarchical development. A reliable agricultural system capable of producing surpluses was essential for supporting the socio-political dynamics of Hawaiian polities; the feedback between ecosystems and social/political developments creates a co-evolving ethno-landscape (Egan, 2003, Evans et al., 2001).

Even though the prolific farming systems of Hawai'i were able to sustain large populations on small islands, there were still important limitations. These limitations have primarily been explored in the context of biogeochemical properties of the agricultural landscapes. The general soil and climatic conditions that bound the intensification of dryland systems as a whole are well understood (Vitousek et al., 2004, Vitousek et al., 2014) and were summarized in a predictive geospatial model of intensive dryland cultivation in Hawai'i by Ladefoged et al. (2009), in which they discuss the total agricultural capability of each island in terms of yield ratios to land and labor. These and other important discussions treat dryland farming in Hawai'i as homogeneous systems based on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) production; however these were in fact dynamic systems with distinct agroecological zones where specific mixes of crops were grown using different farming methods. How does this complexity affect what we have learned from Hawaiian dryland agriculture in relationship to the total yields, relative surplus, and coupled social evolution?

The relatively low productivity and stability within dryland systems in relation to irrigated systems was probably a factor in stimulating Hawaiian planters to create and exploit new forms of cropping that allowed them to develop ways of elevating and diversifying the dryland system and make feasible the expansion into increasingly marginal areas. These innovations may have maximized the available opportunities given the underlying environmental conditions and socio-political climate; better understanding their impact is a first step in understanding the degree to which limitations and opportunities shaped innovation. The agro-forestry plantation based on breadfruit (Artocarpus artilis) within the Kona region of Hawai'i Island, herein referred to as the kaluulu, represents an example of this type of innovative practice (Kelly, 1983).

Breadfruit played an important role in the agrarian culture of pre-European Hawai'i; it was one of three staple sources of starch (Abbott, 1992) and found on all islands of the archipelago (Meilleur et al., 2004). While breadfruit was an important food source, it was clearly a less preferred source of starch than taro and sweet potatoes (Abbott, 1992, Handy et al., 1972). In Hawai'i breadfruit also served several additional purposes; its trunk provided wood for houses, canoes, surfboards and drums; its bark was processed into cloth; its flowers were used in lei making and medicinal applications; and its latex-laden sap was used for chewing gum, caulking, waterproofing, and glue used in cloth making and bird catching (Abbott, 1992, Handy et al., 1972, Malo, 1951).

The location of the kaluulu in the Kona region is significant as Kona was often a political center of Hawai'i Island during the pre-contact era (Kamakau, 1961). Despite the uniqueness and potential political importance of the kaluulu, little is known about this agricultural regime. We utilize ground surveys, historical depictions, and growth observations to determine the historical extent of the kaluulu, and the total yield and surplus generated within the kaluulu. We discuss the implications of this analysis for our understanding and interpretation of human biocomplexity in Hawai'i. In applying innovative and novel, multi-disciplinary approaches to understanding the impact of one particular agroecological zone relating to a well-published body of previous research we aim to highlight the importance of considering variability in local conditions, and how that variability may relate to adaptations and long-term trajectories of farming systems and their productivity.

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[1] Url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0305440314001861

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