this early era was followed by cultural expansion between the 12th and late 18th century. land was divided into regions designed for the immediate needs of the populace. these "ahupuaa" generally took the form of long strips of land oriented from the mountain summits to the coast. mauna kea's summit was encompassed in the ahupuaa of kaohe, with part of its eastern slope reaching into the nearby humuula. principal sources of nutrition for hawaiians living on the slopes of the volcano came from the māmane–naio forest of its upper slopes, which provided them with vegetation and bird life. bird species hunted included the uau ("pterodroma sandwichensis"), nēnē ("branta sandvicensis"), and palila ("loxioides bailleui"). the lower koa–ōhia forest gave the natives wood for canoes and ornate bird feathers for decoration.