Scale, Nature, and Timing of Agricultural Adaptations in Upland Kaʻū

Research reveals that the Kaʻū Field System, located within the Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, exhibited significant autonomy and adaptive agricultural practices. Unlike other regions such as the Kona Field System or the Leeward Kohala Field System, this area maintained local-scale management, persistent habitation, and continued access to forest resources even after formal agricultural infrastructure replaced traditional agroforestry systems. The study suggests that outlying areas with diverse environments were less influenced by centralized political changes compared to more densely populated regions, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of upland Kaʻū's agricultural practices.

Quintus, S., Filimoehala, D., Walker, C., Murakami, G., & Roper Todd, S. (2026). Scale, Nature, and Timing of Agricultural Adaptations in Upland Kaʻū. Journal of Pacific Archaeology, 16(2), 1. https://doi.org/10.70460/jpa.v16i2.394