Hawaiian Poi Dog: Ancient Breed and Modern Conservation

The Hawaiian Poi Dog is an ancient breed that's steeped in history and culture. This breed was first introduced to Hawaii by Polynesian explorers around 1000 AD.

They were brought over as food, but quickly became beloved companions to the native Hawaiian people. The Poi Dog's friendly and outgoing nature made them a staple on Hawaiian islands.

The Poi Dog's diet consisted mainly of poi, a staple made from fermented taro root, which gave them their unique name. This diet was rich in fiber and nutrients, and it's believed to have contributed to the breed's longevity.

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The Hawaiian poi dog has a rich and fascinating history. The original poi dogs were descended from the Polynesian dogs brought to the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesian people.

Genetic studies suggest that the origin of this dog breed is likely Indonesia. The poi dog's modern name is derived from poi, a Hawaiian staple food made from mashed and cooked kalo (or taro) root.

Poi dogs were not bred to a standard, but human selective breeding and natural selection still played a role in their development. The dogs were used for sustenance on the islands and as a lucky charm.

The poi dog was a two-purpose breed, but it was unsuited for much else. The breed declined into extinction as the islanders' beliefs were forgotten and eating dog meat became unfashionable.

Here's a brief timeline of the poi dog's history:

The Hawaiian Poi dog's conservation efforts were attempted in the 1960s by Jack L. Thorpe, director of the Honolulu Zoo.

Despite initial success, the breeding program fell apart, and the Poi dog never made a true comeback.

Unfortunately, this setback highlights the challenges of reviving an extinct breed, and the importance of sustained conservation efforts.

Unfortunately, there are no surviving artwork or photographs that are authentically attributed as poi dogs.

Some historians believe that an unfinished line drawing by French artist Louis Choris, dated to around 1816-17, may show one of the dogs in the center which resembles the extinct breed.

Ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs depict simplified representations of the dogs, often showing curly tails and pointed ears characteristic of the breed.

Historians Katharine Luomala and Margaret Titcomb agree that Choris' drawing is a possible representation of the poi dog breed.

French artist Barthélémy Lauvergne's colored drawing of Honolulu Harbor in 1836 may also capture a dog with the same traits, according to Luomala.

Conservation efforts have been made to bring back the Hawaiian Poi dog. Jack L. Thorpe, director of the Honolulu Zoo, attempted to breed native Hawaiian dogs in the 1960s, resulting in a female that looked like the Poi dog after three generations.

The breeding program was based on 18th- and 19th-century descriptions of the dog and the surviving skeletal remains of the ancient breed. This allowed the team to set a standard for the desired traits.

In 1967, Jack L. Throp led a breeding program at the Honolulu Zoo, selecting local dogs in Hawaii and breeding them for the desired traits. By the third generation, a female was born with the desired appearance of the ancient breed.

The program aimed to recreate the Polynesian dog as part of a living Hawaiian exhibit at the zoo. Unfortunately, the program discontinued shortly after.

A dog from this program, named Hoku, was taken on a historical voyage between Hawaii and Tahiti in 1976.

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