HawaiiSpirit of the Islands:

Past and Present

Spirit of the IslandsSpirit of the Islands Hawaiian

tradition regards 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 maolikanaka maoli””

Spirit of the IslandsSpirit of the Islands Hawaiian 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, living and nonliving, had a special meaning 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 Ahupua’a

http://www.hawaiihistory.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ig.page&CategoryID=299

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.

Sharing was a lifestyle Ahupua’a

Large wedges of land, divided by the chiefs or kings, that started at the mountain peaks and continued into the water beyond

This division made a self-sustaining environment 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 were ‘ohana ‘OhanaOhana

encompasses many generations Elders- kupunakupuna Parents/middle

generation- makuamakua Children- kamalikamali‘‘ii

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

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 Protect the family by

warning, guiding and informing them

In the form of an animal (bird, fish, turtle, shark) tree, rock, breeze, cloud, or even a new child born into the family

Hawaiian GodsHawaiian Gods Kanaka maoli

believe in many gods that take form in nature Taro, sweet

potato, breadfruit, coconut, bananaWhen eating

taro, one is eating Kane and taking in his mana or godly power http://www.mythome.or

g/hawaiig.html

Hawaiian GodsHawaiian Gods

Kane-Kane- the the supreme god, supreme god, god of sunlight, god of sunlight, fresh water, and fresh water, and forests, forests, ancestor of all ancestor of all chiefs and chiefs and commoners, commoners, took the form of took the form of an owlan owl

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

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

Hawaiian GodsHawaiian Gods Lono-Lono-

god of thunder, god of thunder, clouds, wind, clouds, wind, sea, agriculture, sea, agriculture, and fertilityand fertility

took on many took on many formsforms fishfish man-dogman-dog

Honored during Honored during the annual the annual makahiki makahiki harvest festivalharvest festival James CookJames Cook

Hawaiian GodsHawaiian Gods PelePele

fire goddessfire goddess responsible for responsible for

current eruptians current eruptians of Kilaueaof Kilauea

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

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

Talking StoryTalking Story ““Talking storyTalking 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.

Personal Power 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.

Personal Power Gods “responded” by

patterns in the fire, images in a dream, wind, thunder, or even a thought that comes out of nowhere.

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 Kanaka maoli

(native Hawaiians) Shortest life

expectancy Highest mortality

rates Heart disease Stroke Cancer Diabetes Infant mortality Suicide Accidents Substance abuse

They are at the bottom of the heap in their own homeland due to their disconnect with their land and tradition.

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 ChineseChinese

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

JapaneseJapanese After the bombing of Pearl

Harbor Japanese language

schools and radio stations were shut down.

Religious temples were closed.

Japanese newspapers were censored.

Despite some Japanese-Americans being forced into internment camps, AJAS remained loyal 442nd Infantry

Regiment became the most highly decorated unit in the American military during World War II. Their casualty rate was over 3x the military’s average.

Hawaii’s Ethnic Blend FilipinosFilipinos

first group to come were acrobats and musicians

KoreansKoreans overall education and

income levels are the highest of any ethnic group in Hawaii per capita, but they are less than 3% of the population

Hawaii’s Ethnic Blend

SamoansSamoans early immigrants came

after World War I to join the growing Mormon 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 Known as ““haolehaole””

Comes from ancient Hawaiians believing those Comes from ancient Hawaiians believing those with pale skin could not possibly be alivewith pale skin could not possibly be alive

Means Means ““without lifewithout 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 Cook.Cook.

Caucasians are the fastest growing ethnic group.Caucasians 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 islandthe island’’s resources for tourism purposes s resources for tourism purposes rather than protecting the land.rather 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 of proper Hawaiian language.language.

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

Language

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

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

Translation:Translation: ““Hey after work would you like to go Hey after work would you like to go to my house to eat? Weto my house to eat? We’’ve got plenty of tasty 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 aloha- love, aloha- love,

farewell, greetingsfarewell, greetings mahalo- thank youmahalo- thank you malihini- malihini-

newcomer to the newcomer to the island (us)island (us)

‘‘ohana-familyohana-family haole-a foreigner, haole-a foreigner,

usually Caucasianusually Caucasian

‘aina--land wahinewahine- woman heiau-heiau- traditional

Hawaiian temple kapu-taboo

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 successes.desired successes.

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

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 leis.

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 cuisine.way to island cuisine.

Hawaii is one of the Hawaii is one of the worldworld’’s most diverse s most diverse culinary places.culinary places.

An example: Expect An example: Expect sticky white rice with sticky white rice with every meal at Hawaii every 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 LuLu’’aus were generally family aus were generally family ““get togethersget togethers”” but have but have

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

pig cooked in an underground rock oven, poi, sweet pig cooked in an underground rock oven, poi, sweet potatoes, potatoes, ‘‘opihi (shellfish), and salmon.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 lumen at a lu’’au. When kapu was abolished, the luau. When kapu was abolished, the lu’’au au became a time of celebration for special events.became 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.