A Hukilau is a way of fishing. It comprises a large net with a rope around the net that has ti leaves tied to the rope. The ti leaves would scare the fish into the net as the community of people would all pull on the rope, making it close up the net. Everyone who participates, shares in the catch.

When I was young, we did a similar hukilau, but instead of one big net, each person had a small net. The group of people in the water would cause the fish to swim around and hopefully, they could be caught by the individual nets.

There is a song and a traditional hula that is associated with this community activity.

The hukilau song

Jack Owens

Da-ba, da-ba, da-ba, da-ba
Da-ba, da-ba, da-ba, da-ba

Da-ba, da-ba, da-da, da-ba, da

Oh, we’re going to the hukilau
Huki, huki, huki, huki, huki, hukilau
Ev’rybody loves the hukilau
Where the lau lau is the kau kau at the hukilau

We throw our nets out into the sea

And all the ama ama come a-swimming to me

Oh, we’re going to the hukilau
Huki, huki, huki, huki, hukilau

What a beautiful day for fishin’
The old Hawaiian way
And the hukilau net was swishin’
Down in old Laie Bay

Oh, we’re going to the hukilau
Huki, huki, huki, huki, huki, hukilau
Ev’rybody loves the hukilau
Where the lovely hula hula maidens roll their eyes

The silvery moon is shinning above

The kanes and wahines

Sing a song about love

Oh, we’re going to the hukilau
Huki, huki, huki, huki, hukilau

The silvery moon is shinning above

The kanes and wahines

Sing a song about love

Oh, we’re going to the hukilau
Huki, huki, huki, huki, hukilau

Huki, huki, huki, huki, hukilau

Huki, huki, huki, huki, huki
Huki, huki, huki, huki, huki, huki, huki, hukilau

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