What ancient Hawaiians did with umbilical cords might make you cry

After generations of trying to hide or discard things like umbilical cords and placenta as quickly as possible once a baby was born, parents of the last few decades have been moving back toward celebrating them as a natural part of childbirth. There is beautiful birth photography, showing babies with their cords still attached. One proud mom shared the story and pictures with BabyCenter of how her baby was born clutching her umbilical cord. There's even umbilical cord jewelry for those who want a long-lasting keepsake. So when we traveled to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park recently, I was fascinated to discover