Though it’s no surprise, attaining the perfect mattress in Hawaii wasn’t always as easy as shopping with Maui Bed Store. Ancient Hawaiians had to use what resources they had available to not only make their beds, but also their furniture and homes. Using mainly grass and leaves, ancient Hawaiian beds weren’t nearly as comfortable as the mattresses we carry in our store, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t any work involved.

From grass huts to leafy beds, the average ancient Hawaiian home was far different from what we are used to today. Without memory foam and cooling technology, we can only imagine how uncomfortable early Maui mattresses were. Fortunately, we won’t have to sleep on grass-made mattresses anytime soon, but it’s great to see how far mankind has come. Let’s take a look at ancient Hawaiian beds and how homes were decorated before the convenience of Maui Bed Store.

Early Hawaiian Homes: Hale Noho

Living situations in ancient Hawaii could be somewhat complicated. Eating houses were constructed specifically for men, as men and women were forbidden to eat together. Chiefs also had their own living quarter, of which women and children were not allowed to enter. However, hale noho’s, or living houses, were made so extended families could live together. In these living houses, family members were required to lie in a specific order while sleeping. Children slept on the outer ends, while the each member slept with their feet facing the wall for safety reasons.

Houses were designated for a variety of uses, such as a weaving house, the aforementioned men’s eating house, and even a canoe shelter. Each of these were typically made with clumps of pili grass around a wooden structure, hence the term “grass hut.” The interior of these huts were much different than today, lacking furniture and of, course, memory-foam mattresses. While makeshift beds did exist, furniture was not common within homes. So, what made up ancient Hawaiian beds?

Early Maui Mattresses: Traditional Beds

In this day and age, we’re quite lucky to have so many types of mattresses readily available. From memory foam to pillow-top beds, ranging in firmness and size, our only concern is which one to choose. In ancient Hawaii, there wasn’t much of a choice. Let’s see what comprised the ancient Hawaiian bed:

Pili grass and dried leaves were laid on the sandy floor
Woven mats were then placed over the piles of grass and leaves for comfort
Mats were left in the sun throughout the day to be cleansed

Quite simple and minimal, you can imagine how uncomfortable these early beds were. However, this all changed when missionaries brought framed beds to Hawaii. After this, ancient Hawaiian beds consisted of woven lauhala frames filled with leaves and grass, which were then topped with mats for additional comfort.

Maui Bed Store: Mattresses for the Modern Age

As you can see, ancient Hawaiian beds and homes have come a long way. Living in Maui, you now have the best options for mattresses and furniture readily available. Whether you need quality furniture or a new, memory foam mattress for your home, we’ve got it all right here. Take advantage of the great mattress technology we have today and check out Maui Bed Store’s great selection! You can contact us here for any questions.