Ancient Hawaii’s resource management systems called the “Kapu,” “Ahapua’a,”
“Makahiki” were very effective systems and I believe that these were the cause of the Hawaiians being very successful in surviving for a very long period of time. According to article called
“Ahapua’a,” Hawaiian’s highest chiefs would rule over the land even though it was divided into smaller parts which were ruled by smaller land lords. This system was called “Ahapua’a,” and it was a very effective strategy for the preservation of animals. The “Kapu” system was for all
Hawaiian and it controlled the people’s lifestyle, gender roles, politics, and religion. `The
“Makahiki” was a festival in which the Hawaiians honored the God Lono in Hawaiian religious beliefs. These
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The “Ahapua’a” system in my opinion was a very well thought out system and it was what I believe made the Hawaiian Islands so successful for a long period of time. This system was so effective in spreading out land for all people. This system prevented the islanders from fighting over land since everyone had land. These divided land lots were called “Mokus” and according to www.hawaiianhistory.org , the island of O’ahu had six mokus. These mokus were run by the hononikis (present-day mayors), and they would regulate water use and animal hunting to preserve them for the future generations. This system made the Hawaiian Islands so sustainable and if it wasn’t for European colonization in Hawaii, the system would still be beneficial today.
The “Kapu” system was a code of conduct that controlled all of the Hawaiian’s moral codes such as their religion, gender roles, lifestyle and politics. This system was so effective and it was used in all of the “Ahapua’a” systems. According to an article called “Kapus,” the word
Kapu is translated to “forbidden” and it was used by the honohikis to tell the Hawaiian what
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If it wasn’t for this system, the people of Hawaii would have acted like savages because they would have had no moral, and this is why this system was so important to the
Hawaiian people.
The “Makahiki” was a system that made the Hawaiians create festivals every lunar month to honor their God Lono. During these festivals, the Hawaiian people practiced their dances, sports, feasting and renewing their communal bonds. This system was so effective because it kept the Hawaiians active and it made the bonds between landlords and chiefs stay strong. These festivals were so important for keeping the Hawaiian religious beliefs alive and even to this day,
Hawaiians still celebrate “Makahiki.” Without this system, the Hawaiian people wouldn’t have anyone to worship which meant they would have no fear and committing sins or breaking moral codes; they would become savages without this system.
These are my opinions on the “Ahapua’a,” “Kapu,” and the “Makahiki” systems. The
“Ahapua’a”system was effective for diving land and preventing feuds over lands. It was also effective for honohkis to establish their “Kapu” system. The “Kapu” system was effective for giving the Hawaiian people a code of conduct. They would have to follow these codes or
Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono O Hawaii “ The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness” http://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/hi_motto.htm for Hawaiians the life is in their land, the land gives them life by bringing food allowing them to be self-sustainable. Hawaiians can live off of the land like a mother takes care of a child, this is how the land takes care of the people. In return the people take care and cultivate the land. Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono O Hawaii is known as the Hawaii state motto it has been the state motto for over 160 years http://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/hi_motto.htm It came the motto when King Kamehameha said it on July 31, 1843. Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono O Hawaii first appeared on the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Hawaii from (1810-1894) http://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/hi_motto.htm it is also known as a statement used by Hawaiian Sovereignty activist. Israel sang this with his heart as he knew the importance of the Hawaiian culture. Israel lived and sand at a time when Hawaiian Activist were fighting for sovereignty. Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono O Hawaii is known as a powerful statement for Hawaiians, these lyrics in a song has so much deeper meaning than just singing it. The lyrics of “Hawaii 78” is a statement of appeal for and to Hawaiians living today in modern Hawaii, will they as Hawaiians make a difference living the culture forever or will the culture
The Hawaiian culture is known throughout the western world for their extravagant luaus, beautiful islands, and a language that comes nowhere near being pronounceable to anyone but a Hawaiian. Whenever someone wants to “get away” their first thought is to sit on the beach in Hawai’i with a Mai tai in their hand and watch the sun go down. Haunani-Kay Trask is a native Hawaiian educated on the mainland because it was believed to provide a better education. She questioned the stories of her heritage she heard as a child when she began learning of her ancestors in books at school. Confused by which story was correct, she returned to Hawai’i and discovered that the books of the mainland schools had been all wrong and her heritage was correctly told through the language and teachings of her own people. With her use of pathos and connotative language, Trask does a fine job of defending her argument that the western world destroyed her vibrant Hawaiian culture.
In the beginning, Hawaii was unknown to any humans. Polynesians eventually came across its islands, and decided to make it their home. In the early days, each island was ruled by a chief, and many times the islands were in conflict with each other. Centuries like this passed, but then "in 1782, [Queen Lili'uokalani's] cousin Kamehameha set out to conquer and unite the islands". Thirteen years later, in 1795, Kamehameha finally fulfilled his vision of a unified Hawaiian state, and he became king. The nation was then to be ruled by Kamehameha's sons. (Guzzetti 10)
Queen Ka’ahumanu was also his most powerful wife. When the King died on May 5, 1819, he left Ka'ahumanu a share of the governance over the islands. On the morning of Kamehameha I’s death, a few chiefs advised Ka’ahumanu to do away with the kapu system, but she thought it was too soon to act. The kapu system was the ancient Hawaiian set of laws and regulations that forbid many acts. Kapus were strictly enforced, and breaking one often led to immediate death. One of the main causes of the Hawaiians beginning to question the kapu system was seeing the foreigners break the kapus with no consequences. Ka’ahumanu had also secretly broken the kapu multiple times with no consequences. Two weeks following Kameha...
Mana was spiritual energy infused in most people and things, including words. Chiefs were thought to have more mana than others; while a small group of people called kauw [untouchables] had none. The Kauw, were forced to live apart from everyone else, so their lack of mana wouldn't drain it away from others (Segisys). Instilling of the Kapu, just like the caste system in India, those who were at the bottom of the social ladder were not allowed to have any type of contact with the higher class, and even less with the chief’s. One Kapu law included punishment to those who would cast their shadow on a king/chief and even those who attempt to look at them directly in the eye. Other examples of these regulations included the forbiddance of men and women from eating together or ...
The arrival of the missionaries in Hawaii changed the lives of the natives in huge ways that lasted forever. The introduction of western houses and culture had a big influence on Hawaii. The native Hawaiians built their houses out of grass and had very simple villages, but when the missionaries established their settlement they built more sophisticated and sturdy homes out of coral and used western architectural methods to construct buildings. The Hawaiians soon following their lead and the royalty all had western palaces for homes. This also lead to an increase in technology, such as the use of wells and water lines to store fresh water for the towns. They also began to bring in and
They believe chanting is a very personal way of expressing feelings and thoughts on a higher level of communication. The topics of the chants may include warfare, death, sex, birth, chiefs, gods, the beauty of the island and water, or even surfing. This exotic culture was hidden from the world until 1778, when Captain James Cook and his men became the first westerners to discover the islands of Hawaii. When they arrived on Kaua’i, the islanders performed the hula dance as a way of greeting the strangers. Later in 1820, Christian missionaries from New England came to the islands, armed with the Bible and narrow-minded thoughts.
Racism in Hawaii has caused various issues, and one of them is racial tension. It states that “ some say…”[there are]”...racial tensions between the islands white community and native hawaiians” (Hansen, paragraph 3). Well, in history, it was quite difficult for most of the
Jovik, Sonia P. and James O. Jovik. (1997). “History.” Atlas of Hawaii. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, p.408.
While walking down the beach, the white, warm sand mushes between your toes. The sun’s radiant rays beam off your glowing skin. The sound of waves crashing blocks out the external world. There is no other place like the gorgeous tropical islands of Hawaii. The wide range of flowers, cuisine, and wildlife makes it one of the most picturesque places on Earth. It also leads the United States with the highest racial minority rate making it the most diverse state. However, there are numerous hidden dangers of Hawaii, and not all ethnic groups get along causing sharp tensions across the island.
John Papa ‘I’i was raised under the traditional kapu system. In 1910 he accompanied his uncle to become a companion of Liholiho (King Kamehameha II) and servant in the Royal Hawaiian Court. In 1820 he joined Liholiho to attend schooling in reading and writing taught by Hiram Bingham. Liholiho was eager for John to attend missionary schooling, because he wanted to observe the impact Christian teaching would have on John. After becoming literate, John Papa ‘I’i assisted the missionaries in the translation of several texts from english to hawaiian. When Liholiho died, John Papa ‘I’i became a kahu for Victoria Kamamalu. He also served as a...
The gods and their fighting are responsible for much of the weather. Tawhiri, who is the god of wind, creates the winds and hurricanes. Tane is a god specifically for forests, typical of a tropical island. Tangaroa is the god of the sea, given that the Polynesians are an island culture. He accounts for the waves and whirlpools. Rangi and Papa’s tears due to separation are responsible for rain and dew in the mornings. (“Creation Myth – Maori”) The Polynesian diet consists of many organic roots and crops. Rongo is the god of sweet potato and other cultivated foods, illustrating the importance of sweet potato itself, being that it has its own god. Rongo also means “peace,” further strengthening the importance of their agricultural lifestyle. (“Maori Gods and Goddesses”) There is also a god for fern root and wild edible plants, named Haumia. Earthquakes are explained in the creation myth as well. The Polynesian are located in the Ring of Fire, an area in the Pacific of active volcanoes and earthquakes, which explains it scientifically. However, in their creation myth, Hine Timata’s son, Ruaumoko, causes earthquakes when he walks around in the Underworld. The creation of New Zealand segments provides a detailed explanation of the mountainous formation of the island, due to Maui’s mischievousness and the inability of his brother’s to follow orders. The Polynesians have carefully supplied explanations and corresponding gods and goddesses for each part of their culture and environment. Much of the Maori creation myths intertwine emotion and divinity together to form realistic situations on a larger scale in order to explain the formation of the world the Maoris know
...e" (Trask xix). This incident beautifully illustrates and signifies tourism's impact in American society. Like most Americans, this woman uses a discourse that has been shaped by tourist advertisements and souvenirs. The woman's statement implies that Trask resembles what the tourist industry projects, as if this image created Hawaiian culture. As Trask asserts, Hawaiian culture existed long before tourism and has been exploited by tourism in the form of advertisements and items such as postcards. Along with the violence, endangered environment, and poverty, this exploitation is what the tourist industry does not want to show. However, this is the Hawai'i Haunani-Kay Trask lives in everyday. "This is Hawai'i, once the most fragile and precious of sacred places, now transformed by the American behemoth into a dying land. Only a whispering spirit remains" (Trask 19).
...Hawai`i’s economy is very dependent on tourism, however many locals are possessive of their land, and as they stereotype tourists, many do not accept others as they have a unity for their own. Numerous individuals feel the desideratum to fit the local stereotype because they prefer not to be labeled as a “haole”. It becomes tough and rather intense for an individual, because becoming haole betokens that you forgot and disregarded the local or Hawaiian quality values and ways of routes, as well as the flowing stream of life in the islands. We need to remind ourselves that regardless of where we emanate from, our skin tone, race, physical characteristics, and so forth, everybody ought to acknowledge just for who we/they are and treat one another like 'ohana and show "aloha", and subsequently, we can determinately verbally express "This is it. This is Paradise" (33).