Hawaiian Grass Hale (House)

Polynesian culture, Pacific Islands, still in use. Used primarily for storage with everyday living activities occurring outside the house.

Elevation is close to sea coast.

Materials: wood framework consisted of ridegpole, rafters, and purlins (horizontal supports running between vertical wall posts); sweet-smelling pili grass for roof and walls; pili grass was tied to the purlins in bundles with thatch at the ridgepoles carefully layered and braided to prevent rain and wind from entering the house. Other thatching materials included various grasses, pandanus leaves, ti, sugar cane leaves and banana trunk fiber. Lashing was done with braided `uki`uki grass, coconut husk fiber or `ie`ie; no nails were used. Hale typically had a small door opening and no windows. (HawaiiHistory.org)

Data for CG model:
1.Pauahi, Bernice, unknown date. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii
2. Summers, Catherine C., 1988. THE HAWAIIAN GRASS HOUSE IN BISHOP MUSEUM, , Bishop Museum Special Publication 80, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu.