Customary Access: Sustaining Local Control of Fishing and Food on Kaua'i's North Shore
Abstract Where Hawai`i's land and sea once supported a population close to contemporary times, today 90 percent of food consumed in Hawai`i is imported and delivered on container ships. Once plentiful in the bays and coral reefs surrounding these islands, fish is now frequently shipped in and store bought. Yet, local families in parts of Hawai`i have maintained self sufficiency in part of their food system through communal surround net fishing, employing ancestral knowledge, mobilizing community effort, and sharing catch from these collective harvests. This article examines the role of access in perpetuating surround net harvests and sharing through ho`ihi (respectful reciprocity) konohiki (inviting ability) and kuleana (rights based on responsibilities) It concludes by considering the implications of the findings for food systems and food security.