# The Hawaiian Poi Dog: Info, Pictures & History - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/the-hawaiian-poi-dog-info-pictures-history/ - Published: 2024-04-03 - Author: Savanna Read - Categories: [Dog](https://33rdsquare.com/category/dog/) --- The Pudgy Polynesian: Exploring the History and Mysteries of Hawaii‘s Extinct Poi Dog Introduction When you picture a native Hawaiian dog breed, you probably think of something like a playful, water-loving Labrador Retriever or energetic Jack Russell Terrier racing along sandy beaches and leaping into turquoise waves. But an entirely different canine once served as the indigenous dog of the Hawaiian Islands – the elusive and extinct Hawaiian Poi dog. With a stout body, stubby legs, and an unusually flattened head, the unique Poi dog waddled its way into Hawaiian history before disappearing forever in the early 20th century. While the Poi is long gone, they leave behind an intriguing legacy that provides a rare glimpse into the culture of ancient Hawaiians and their complex relationship with man‘s best friend. Let‘s take a closer look at the curious case of the pudgy Polynesian pooch and examine the Poi dog‘s origins, physical attributes, temperament, cultural significance, and ultimate demise. The Poi Dog‘s Polynesian Roots The Hawaiian Poi dog‘s story begins across the vast Pacific in the islands of Polynesia. Between 300-800 AD, seafaring Polynesians began arriving in Hawaii, bringing with them plants, animals, and their own distinct dog landrace. Genetic testing indicates that this Polynesian dog served as the ancestor of the Poi dog that would later develop in Hawaii. In Polynesia, dogs were bred primarily as a food source, and this culinary role would carry over to Hawaii, heavily influencing the Poi‘s eventual appearance and reputation. While some canine cousins of the Poi dog headed south to New Zealand, becoming the now-extinct Kuri dog of the Maori people, the branch that ended up in Hawaii found themselves in an environment free of predators and competition. With no need to hunt or scavenge, a lax life of little activity awaited – a stark contrast to the rugged, wolf-like existence of their ancient forebears. This gentle existence would shape the Poi into a rather peculiar specimen of a dog. Physical Characteristics: The Roly-Poly Poi European explorers like Captain James Cook, who visited Hawaii in the late 18th century, painted a vivid picture of the Poi dog through their journals and logs. They describe an unmistakably distinct dog with short fur that came in many colors, but was predominantly brown. Early depictions and preserved skeletal remains also reveal a diminutive dog with disproportionately short, stout legs attached to a long, rotund body – a physique often compared to that of the modern Welsh Corgi. But the Poi dog‘s most striking feature was undoubtedly its large, unusually flattened head and blunted snout. Theories suggest that the Poi‘s strange skull shape developed due to its lazy lifestyle and a mushy, vegetarian diet that required minimal chewing, causing the dog‘s temporal jaw muscles to atrophy and weaken over time. With no real work to do, the Poi grew extremely overweight, with some accounts describing dogs so obese they could barely walk. This sluggish, corpulent body wasn‘t built for hunting or herding, and the Poi‘s physicality matched its purpose and status within Hawaiian society. Seen more as a food source than a working animal, the Poi‘s roly-poly frame signaled that it was ready for the dinner table. A Mild-Mannered Couch Potato The Poi dog‘s lethargic lifestyle produced an equally lackadaisical temperament. Considered a friendly breed, especially fond of children, the Hawaiian Poi was also regarded as rather lazy, clumsy, and unintelligent. While great with kids, the Poi proved less than impressive in the obedience and trainability department, with a noted stubborn streak. Not particularly protective or territorial, the Poi was a terrible guard dog candidate, as excessive barking was not part of this mellow breed‘s repertoire. Hawaiian households looking for a vocal watchdog or fierce protector had to look elsewhere. Low-energy was the name of the game for this couch potato canine. However, the Poi‘s gentle, kid-friendly nature did help elevate its status from pure cuisine to a spiritual companion for children. In a fascinating blend of food source and friend, Hawaiian families began to see the Poi dog as a lucky charm for their children, though still not regarded with the same reverence as modern pets. This complicated relationship walked the line between love and dinner. The Unusual Diet and Domain of the Poi Dog Central to the Poi dog‘s development and physical appearance was its vegetarian diet consisting mainly of poi, a paste made from steamed and mashed taro root. This starchy staple food, combined with a mostly sedentary life, caused the Poi dog to pack on the pounds and develop a distorted head shape through weakened jaw muscles. Hawaiian Poi dogs also lived a free-range lifestyle, allowed to roam and socialize with other Poi dogs and the pigs that Hawaiians raised as livestock. The Poi dog‘s domain wasn‘t limited to the boundaries of a family home – they wandered through villages and into the wild, blurring the line between pet and feral animal. This semi-wild existence granted the Poi a level of autonomy not experienced by most modern pet dogs, but also placed less emphasis on the close human-canine bonds celebrated today. Poi dogs were certainly part of Hawaiian life and culture, but not entirely integrated into human families. Cultural Significance and the Poi‘s Puzzling Place The Poi dog occupied a unique and somewhat contradictory position within the culture of native Hawaiians. On one hand, the Poi was raised as a ready source of protein, not unlike the pigs they cohabitated with. Their meat was considered a delicacy, and the Hawaiians "fattened them like pigs" through their taro-heavy diet. However, the Poi dog‘s easygoing temperament and affinity for children also earned them a more sentimental status. Poi dogs were associated with luck and even assigned as spiritual protectors for youngsters. If a child with a Poi dog guardian passed away, their dog was often buried with them. Should the Poi dog die first, their teeth would be made into a special necklace for their child to wear. This duality reveals a complex interplay of practicality and spirituality in how Hawaiians regarded the Poi dog. Not quite a pet in the modern sense, but also not simply livestock, the Poi straddled multiple roles that might seem contradictory to dog lovers today. The Poi‘s puzzling place in Hawaiian culture provides a valuable look at the diversity of human-canine relationships across time and place. While dogs were the first animals domesticated by humans over 15,000 years ago, not all cultures have related to them in the same way. The Poi reminds us that the concept of a dog as a cherished pet and family member is a relatively recent phenomenon in some parts of the world. Failed Revival and a Forever Farewell As the 19th century came to a close, so too did the Poi dog‘s tenure in Hawaii. The arrival of European explorers and American colonists brought an influx of new dog breeds, which quickly mixed with the native Poi dogs. Lacking a strictly controlled breeding program and strong selection for Poi traits, the Poi‘s distinct characteristics were gradually lost through generations of genetic dilution. At the same time, Hawaiians found less need to raise dogs as a food source thanks to alternative livestock and shifting culinary tastes. Ultimately, the demand for Poi-like traits disappeared, and with it the incentive to preserve the breed. By the early 20th century, the Poi dog had vanished, leaving only memories and a few rare photographs behind. In the 1960s, an attempt was made to resurrect the breed by Jack L. Thorpe, the director of the Honolulu Zoo. Thorpe bred native Hawaiian mixes that retained some Poi-like attributes, and after three generations produced a female that strongly resembled depictions of the Poi dog. However, the breeding program collapsed soon after, and a true revival of the Poi dog never materialized. As of 2023, the Poi dog remains extinct, a relic of a bygone era in Hawaii‘s history. But while the flesh-and-blood Poi may be gone, its legacy lives on as a testament to the extraordinary diversity of dogs and the many ways they‘ve intersected with human cultures over millennia. The Poi dog‘s short, stout time on earth provides an illuminating example of a hyper-localized canine evolution, guided by the needs and lifestyles of a specific people in a specific place and time. It‘s a poignant reminder that the dogs we share our lives with today are the products of our own choices and cultural values, and that the cords that bind humans and canines together are as varied and complex as the societies that forge them. So the next time you see a Corgi or similar breed waddling down the street, spare a thought for its enigmatic ancestor from the Hawaiian Islands – the pudgy Polynesian Poi dog. Though lost to history, the Poi‘s memory serves as a fascinating footnote in the epic tale of humans and dogs, and a tribute to the incredible adaptability and resilience of our most trusted animal companions. Perhaps someday, the Poi will experience a renaissance and grace the shores of Hawaii once more, resurrected as a cherished symbol of an island‘s people and their inimitable bond with man‘s best friend. Conclusion The Hawaiian Poi dog‘s story is one of contradictions and complexities, much like the culture that created it. A breed that straddled the line between companion and cuisine, spiritual guardian and dinner table fare, the Poi challenges our modern conceptions of what it means to be a dog and share a world with humans. Though extinct for a century, the Poi dog lives on as a captivating case study in the annals of canine history, a testament to the incredible diversity of dogs and the many roles they‘ve played in human societies across time and space. By understanding the Poi‘s unique place in Hawaiian culture, we gain a greater appreciation for the multifaceted nature of the human-canine bond and the ways in which our relationships with dogs continue to evolve. As we reflect on the Poi dog‘s legacy, we‘re reminded that the breeds we know and love today are the products of our own choices, needs, and values. Just as the Poi was shaped by the environment and culture of ancient Hawaii, so too are our modern breeds molded by the demands and desires of contemporary society. In learning about the Poi dog, we not only discover a fascinating footnote in the history of our most trusted animal companions, but we also gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the complex web of connections that bind us to the natural world. The Poi may be gone, but its memory endures as a powerful symbol of the enduring and ever-evolving relationship between humans and dogs, a bond that has shaped our world in ways we‘re still learning to fully appreciate. --- Source: [The Hawaiian Poi Dog: Info, Pictures & History](https://33rdsquare.com/the-hawaiian-poi-dog-info-pictures-history/)