The Huli have lived in their region for 1,000 years and recount lengthy oral histories relating to individuals and their clans. They were extensive travellers (predominantly for trade) in both the highlands and lowlands surrounding their homeland, particularly to the south. The Huli were not known to Europeans until 1935, when they were first contacted by Jack Hides and James O'Malley on their famous Strickland-Purari patrol.