In 1967, Jack L. Throp, director of the Honolulu Zoo, attempted to bring back the breed through selective breeding of local dogs based on morphological characteristics. The project studied 18th- and 19th-century descriptions of the dog before 1825 and also the surviving skeletal remains of the ancient breed to set a standard.
In 1967, Jack L. Throp, director of the Honolulu Zoo, tried to revive the breed by selectively breeding local dogs based on physical traits. The project examined descriptions from the 18th and 19th centuries before 1825 and also analyzed the remaining skeletal remains of the ancient breed to establish a standard.