HawaiiHawaiiSpirit of the Islands: Spirit of the Islands:

Past and PresentPast and Present

Spirit of the IslandsSpirit of the Islands Hawaiian tradition

describes the land (‘aina) as mother

‘‘AinaAina means “that which feeds”

Land does not belong to the Hawaiians, rather Hawaiians belong to the land and are a part of the land

Hawaiians regard themselves as “kanaka maoli”“kanaka maoli”

Spirit of the IslandsSpirit of the IslandsHawaiian

tradition involved constant communication with other living things, the land, the rocks, the ocean, and the spirits of the ancestors

All parts of the island, All parts of the island, living and nonliving, living and nonliving, had a special had a special meaning and purposemeaning and purpose

Spirit of the IslandsSpirit of the Islands Because the land

belonged to no one, anything coming from the land was shared

Fishermen, farmers, and woodsmen did not tend their own “property” but did their jobs for everyone’s benefit

Sharing was a lifestyle

Spirit of the IslandsSpirit of the Islands The only parts of

the island that were off limits were those considered kapu

These areas were reserved for Hawaiian gods

Islands were divided into wedges or ahupua’aahupua’a by the chiefs or kings

Ahupua’a contained ridges on both Ahupua’a contained ridges on both sides of a valley, forested uplands, sides of a valley, forested uplands, some shoreline, and extended out some shoreline, and extended out to the oceanto the ocean The division of ahupua’a made The division of ahupua’a made

each wedge a self-sustaining each wedge a self-sustaining environment for the peopleenvironment for the people

Spirit of the IslandsSpirit of the Islands Most all of the people

living within an ahupua’a were family

Both blood relatives, and extended family or, ‘ohana

‘OhanaOhana encompasses many generations Elders- kupunakupuna Parents/middle

generation- makuamakua Children- kamali’ikamali’i

There was no difference There was no difference between cousin, aunt, between cousin, aunt, uncle, parent. All uncle, parent. All members of the same members of the same generation were generation were considered siblingsconsidered siblings

Spirit of the IslandsSpirit of the Islands Piko was

considered a way to be connected with the ancestors, the living kanaka maoli, and all future generations

There were 3 piko, or centers that made kanaka maoli feel attached to each other as a group

Piko waena-Piko waena- the navel, the memory of the conncetion between mother and child

Piko po’o-Piko po’o- the opening between bones in a baby’s skull that does not close until after birth, the spiritual connection to the ancestors and nature

Piko ma’i-Piko ma’i- the genetials, connection to future generations

Spirit of the IslandsSpirit of the Islands Kanaka maoli

believe that on earth they are in human form, but came from other forms and will return in other forms before and after this life

Time in the human form is short

After this life, kanaka maoli come back to earth in spiritual form as ‘aumakua‘aumakua

‘‘Aumakua are thought Aumakua are thought to protect the family by to protect the family by warning, guiding, and warning, guiding, and informing theminforming them

‘‘Aumakua can be in Aumakua can be in the form of a an the form of a an animal, plant, rock, animal, plant, rock, breeze, cloud, even a breeze, cloud, even a new child in the familynew child in the family

Spirit of the IslandsSpirit of the Islands Kanaka maoli believe in

many gods that take form in nature

One chant called the “He Kumulipo” describes the origins of the islands

The literal translation is “at the time of the hot earth, turning against the changing sky”

The hidden meaning: mating between sky-father Wakea and earth mother Papa

According to this According to this chant, the taro plant chant, the taro plant originated from one of originated from one of the early children of the early children of these gods that diedthese gods that died The taro plant The taro plant

sprouted from the sprouted from the burial place and burial place and became the staple became the staple foodfood

It is also another It is also another form of Kane, a form of Kane, a Hawaiian godHawaiian god

When eating taro, When eating taro, one is eating Kane one is eating Kane and taking in his and taking in his godly powergodly power

Hawaiian GodsHawaiian Gods Kane-Kane- the the

supreme god, supreme god, ancestor of all ancestor of all chiefs and chiefs and commoners, commoners, took the form took the form of an owlof an owl

Ku-Ku-patron patron god of war, god of war, brought brought about rain, about rain, growth, growth, successful successful fishingfishing

Kanaloa-Kanaloa- god of the god of the ocean, ocean, companion companion of Kane, of Kane, took form in took form in an octopus an octopus or squidor squid

Hawaiian GodsHawaiian Gods Lono-Lono-god of god of

thunder, clouds thunder, clouds and wind. and wind. Took on many Took on many

forms. Honored forms. Honored during the annual during the annual mahahiki harvest mahahiki harvest festival.festival.

James Cook visited James Cook visited during this festival during this festival time. time.

Some believe the Some believe the Hawaiians mistook Hawaiians mistook Cook for Lono’s Cook for Lono’s return because the return because the ships sails looked ships sails looked like cloudslike clouds

Hawaiian GodsHawaiian Gods Pele- Pele- fire goddess.fire goddess. Responsible for Responsible for

current eruptians of current eruptians of KilaueaKilauea

She traveled from She traveled from island to island island to island looking for a home. looking for a home. Found her home on Found her home on the Big Island where the Big Island where she built a palace of she built a palace of fire (the Kilauea fire (the Kilauea volcano)volcano)

She is a lesser god in She is a lesser god in Hawaiian beliefsHawaiian beliefs

Talking StoryTalking Story ““Talking story”Talking story” is

how kanaka maoli passed on their oral traditions and beliefs

By locals taking time to sit and tell stories, ancient Hawaiian beliefs and traditions have been passed on through many generations without written record

Ancient Hawaii For the most part

the kanaka maoli were a non-violent people

However, conflicts between neighboring chiefs did arise and there was warfare

Warrior classes tested their strength against each other. This was very ritualistic in nature

Ancient Hawaii After the arrival of

James Cook and other Westerners, the values of the kanaka maoli changed

Rather than restoring balance, the goal of war became about the acquisition of goods. In particular, the sandlewood trade played a role in this shift in thinking

Once the natural world was part of the ‘ohana of the kanaka maoli, now the natural world represented resources and power

Ancient Hawaii Everything the kanaka

maoli did was for a reason and a purpose

Preparing and eating a meal had a certain process

Caring for the sick had to be done at a certain time of day with certain prayers and thoughts

Dances, chants, and rituals had to be done perfectly

By doing these actions deliberately, the Hawaiians believed it gave them a direct communication line with their gods

Ancient Hawaii Gods “responded” by

patterns in the fire, images in a dream, wind, thunder, even a thought

These responses were interpreted as signs from the gods and answers to their prayers

Everything happens and exists for a reason in this belief system

Kanaka Maoli Today From the moment

Westerners first arrived in Hawaii, the kanaka maoli have been losing their true culture and heritage a little more each day

Hawaiian’s sense of balance is deeply rooted in the natural environment

Kanaka Maoli Today

As land has been lost, so too have the traditions of the kanaka maoli

As well as losing land, the kanaka maoli population has been declining due to diseases introduced by Westerners and inter-racial mixing

Kanaka Maoli Today Today the kanaka maoli, once thriving, Today the kanaka maoli, once thriving,

now have:now have: Shortest life expectancyShortest life expectancy Highest death rate from disease, strokes, and Highest death rate from disease, strokes, and

diabetesdiabetes Highest suicide rateHighest suicide rate Highest substance abuse rateHighest substance abuse rate Less than 2% graduation rate from the Less than 2% graduation rate from the

University of HawaiiUniversity of Hawaii Highest drop out rateHighest drop out rate 40% of the Oahu prison population40% of the Oahu prison population Highest rate of homelessnessHighest rate of homelessness

Kanaka Maoli Today Most Hawaiians today are

not full-blooded Hawaiian due to the many other ethnic groups on the island and racial mixing

Those who are part-Hawaiian usually claim their Hawaiian heritage first as a point of pride

Six other ethnic groups have made their place on the island

Hawaii’s Ethnic Blend Chinese-Chinese-one of

Hawaii’s most prominent, influential, and financially successful groups

Japanese-Japanese-orinally came to Hawaii as immagrints working in plantations with labor contracts. Established a population and now have many cultural influences in all aspects of the islands

Hawaii’s Ethnic Blend Filipinos-Filipinos- first group to

come were acrobats and musicians. Next wave to come were immagrint laborers working on the sugarcane plantations

Koreans- Koreans- overall education and income levels are they highest of any ethnic group in Hawiian. Less than 3% of the population but have successfully established themselves in business

Hawaii’s Ethnic Blend

Samoans-Samoans- most immigrants came after World War I to join the growing Morman community.

Brought with them the laid back lifestyle of old Hawaii and had difficulty adapting at first.

Have been able to retain much of their culture.

Hawaii’s Ethnic Blend

CaucasiansCaucasians Known as “haole”- comes from ancient Known as “haole”- comes from ancient

Hawaiians believing those with pale skin could Hawaiians believing those with pale skin could not possibly be alive. Means “without life”. not possibly be alive. Means “without life”. Sometimes used in a negative light.Sometimes used in a negative light.

This phrase originated at the arrival of James This phrase originated at the arrival of James CookCook

Caucasians are the fastest growing ethnic groupCaucasians are the fastest growing ethnic group The negativity stems from the fact that The negativity stems from the fact that

newcomers to the island often want to exploit newcomers to the island often want to exploit the island’s resources for tourism purposes the island’s resources for tourism purposes rather than protecting the landrather than protecting the land

Kanaka Maoli Making a Comeback

The Hawaii Department of The Hawaii Department of Education has established Education has established Hawaiian language Hawaiian language immersion in schools immersion in schools promoting kanaka maoli promoting kanaka maoli pride and the continued use pride and the continued use of proper Hawaiian languageof proper Hawaiian language

Children and parents now Children and parents now take classes and are taught take classes and are taught the native languagethe native language

Hawaiian is not a written Hawaiian is not a written language and historians still language and historians still have not determined all of have not determined all of the details of the origin of the details of the origin of the languagethe language

Language

Most local Hawaiians speak a mixture Most local Hawaiians speak a mixture of English and Hawaiian called of English and Hawaiian called “pidgin”“pidgin”

Example:Example: “Hey, pau hana like go my hale for “Hey, pau hana like go my hale for grind? Get plenty ‘ono pupu-even pipikaula and grind? Get plenty ‘ono pupu-even pipikaula and poke in da fridge.”poke in da fridge.”

Translation:Translation: “Hey after work would you like to “Hey after work would you like to go to my house to eat? We’ve got plenty of tasty go to my house to eat? We’ve got plenty of tasty appetizers, even some beef jerky and raw fish appetizers, even some beef jerky and raw fish marinated with seaweed in the refrigerator.”marinated with seaweed in the refrigerator.”

Common Hawaiian Words

AlohaAloha- love, farewell, greetings

KokuaKokua- helpMaholaMahola- thank

youMalihiniMalihini-

newcomer to the island (us )

KanakaKanaka- manWahineWahine- womanKeikiKeiki- childHaoleHaole- Caucasian

foreignerHeiau-Heiau- traditional

Hawaiian temple

Music and Hula Music was an important

part of ancient Hawaiian ritual

Religious songs and chants helped connect the kanaka maoli with their gods

Hula with song was used as a spiritual tool, a teaching tool, and entertainment

Every move and word has a deep meaning and must be done correctly

It was believed that “practicing” the action you could control that action in the future

Music and Hula There were specific There were specific

hulas done for hulas done for successful hunts, successful hunts, fertility, and other fertility, and other desired successesdesired successes

Going to hula Going to hula school for school for Hawaiians could be Hawaiians could be compared to compared to someone going to someone going to a monastery to a monastery to study the study the priesthoodpriesthood

Lei Lei’s can be made of

flowers, leaves, shells, and paper

Special symbol or gift given as a sign of respect and were used in dances and chants

Lei’s are draped over statues or images of important people

Each island has its own special material for making lei

Food and Lu’au The many ethnic groups The many ethnic groups

in Hawaii have each in Hawaii have each contributed in their own contributed in their own way to island cuisineway to island cuisine

Hawaii is one of the Hawaii is one of the world’s most diverse world’s most diverse culinary placesculinary places

An example: Expect An example: Expect sticky white rice with sticky white rice with ever meal at Hawaii ever meal at Hawaii Preparatory Academy Preparatory Academy due to the heavy Asian due to the heavy Asian influence…even with influence…even with your eggs at breakfast your eggs at breakfast

Food and Lu’au Lu’aus were generally family “get togethers” but have Lu’aus were generally family “get togethers” but have

since been commercialized for tourism purposessince been commercialized for tourism purposes Most foods at lu’aus are authentic, including kaluha pig Most foods at lu’aus are authentic, including kaluha pig

cooked in an underground rock oven, poi, sweet cooked in an underground rock oven, poi, sweet potatoes, ‘opihi (shellfish), and salmonpotatoes, ‘opihi (shellfish), and salmon

In ancient times, women were not allowed to eat with In ancient times, women were not allowed to eat with men at a lu’au. When kapu was abolished, the lu’au men at a lu’au. When kapu was abolished, the lu’au became a time of celebration for special eventsbecame a time of celebration for special events

Food and Lu’au

Now lu’aus are highly dramatized for the tourist with flashy hula and stories of Hawaiian legends