Hawaiian Military
The military in ancient Hawaiian society was at the same time incredibly advanced and primitive. Chiefs deployed thousands of warriors in large-scale pitched battles, creating a rich and colorful military history. They developed a wide array of hawaiian weapons and tactics that were both effective and devastating. For example, they independently developed pike formations, something that was seen in Western history as late as the American Civil War. However, the Hawaiians did all of this without the use of metal! They used incredible ingenuity to fashion heavy tropical woods into pikes, spears, daggers (including double daggers) and war clubs. They also employed stones in maces. They were amazingly resourceful, using swordfish swords for daggers and sharks teeth on slashing weapons. Perhaps the most interesting weapons they deployed were there trip weapons and strangulation cords. The ancient Hawaiians also wove slings and formed deadly high-speed ammunition from dense volcanic rock. All of this added up to a very unique, and deadly military and exciting history.
http://www.ancientmilitary.com/hawaiian-military.htm
