This authentic Hawaiian lava stone was originally a pestle for a mortar but in the days of old Hawaii, it was used for anything needing to be crushed. Medicine grinders were generally shaped a little differently, and some can be seen on display at the Bishop Museum.
Hawaiians would use a tool like this for everything from pounding poi to grinding medicine, crushing coral shells, sugarcane, and even meat to tenderize it. I live on the Big Island and I showed this item to a few of my Hawaiian friends and their grandmothers and grandfathers, one of which is a retired employee of the Bishop Museum and another is Kahuna, and it is estimated to be from the 1800's. It is full of sparkling green Olivine, other natural minerals , emanating with energy and mana. It has been properly blessed for shipping in case some believe in the ancient superstition of not removing rocks and sand from Hawaii.
It measures approx. 3.75 inches tall and 2.5 inches at widest point.
