kauhale | traditional living style
Kauhale, which translates to "a group of houses" was an integral part of the traditional 'ohana (family system) and the ancient ahupua'a system. Unlike modern day houses, where a single structure is used for multiple domestic function (such as cooking, sleeping etc.), every Hawaiian household had a group of houses.
Each house, or hale, was used for a different purpose. Some structures were set aside for men and some for women, and some were for the entire family. Hale were built and dedicated for certain crafts, such as fishing, kapa making, and weaving, while others were set apart for family rituals and ceremonies. It is important to remember that not all hale were constructed. At Kalaemanō hale were sometimes constructed around caves or small lava openings. Kauhale were widely dispersed across the land and were built wherever suitable living conditions could be found. Adjacent to the kauhale found in this portion of Kalaemanō are many man-made and naturally occurring salt collection areas. |
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