An ancient ahupua‘a agricultural area, maintained by Papahana Kuaola, an educational organization in Kane’ohe, O’ahu, Hawaii. October, 2011.

This phallic rock signals the entrance to a lo’i, or a traditional taro growing field. In ancient Hawaiian culture, the rock was meant to symbolize fertility and serve as a reminder for entrants to dismiss any negative thoughts they might be carrying before coming into the farm.

You can read my full story about Hawaii’s mystic root vegetable, here.