Octopus Lure

A large cowrie shell with two holes drilled at the top. A short piece of cord is strung through the two holes. The shell is used as the bait component of an octopus lure (leho he'e or lūhe‘e).

In Hawai’i, fishing lures were used alongside nets, sinkers, and fishing lines. For certain species like ʻahi (tuna) or and heʻe (octopus), fishermen preferred artificial lures crafted from hard, reflective materials, particularly thick mother-of-pearl bivalves, where the surface mimicked the flash of prey. This surface-fishing technique, known as pā hi aku, enabled fishing without the use of live bait.

Squid and octopus fishing employed the use of a cowrie-shell lure (leho heʻe), operated in deep water through a rhythmic raising and lowering method called lu heʻe. Structurally composed of a wooden stem, stone sinker, cowrie shell, hook, and ti-leaf hackle, these lures relied on balance, movement, and visual attraction to entice their target.