Sponsors
A NEW LAND IS BORN
Legends of sunken continents abound; telling of great natural cataclysm's that tore the Earth
open and saw it swallowed by the sea. Hawaii is such a story in reverse, for here the ripped Earth
poured molten lava from its depths to create new land. Slowly, over countless centuries,
fractures on the Pacific Ocean floor opened and reopened, piling new layers of lava atop the old.
There 18,000 feet below the sea's surface, Hawaii began to form. One by one the present
Islands. . . Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, Kahoolawe, Kauai and Niihau reached toward the
surface, finally emerging as volcanic craters, the tips of submerged mountains whose bases
hugged the ocean floor. Yet these mountain-top Islands were not to grow forever. As volcanic
activity creased, new elements began to change them. Rain, wind and waves took these rounded
dome-like volcano's and carved valleys, mountains and cliffs from brittle volcanic rock. Slowly soil
and beaches began to form.
As ice ages came and went, sea level rose and fell, at times submerging lowland coast, at other
times creating new land from shallow sea bed and coral reef's. Occasionally new eruptions
would take place. Landmarks like Diamond Head and Koko Head on Oahu are the remains of
such later eruptions. Slowly plant life arrived: seeds and spores carried by water and wind to
Hawaii's barren lava slopes. These in turn played their part in re-designing the Island, turning
rock to soil and covering the land with the lush green that is an ever present part of today's
Hawaii.
And the process of change is still not complete. Mauna Loa and Kilauea on the Island of Hawaii
are amongst the most active volcano's on Earth, Still spewing forth lava rivers, adding to Hawaii's
size and the sea, the archipelago continues to grow, telling the story not only of Hawaii's present,
but of a past that reaches back millions of years.
Legends of sunken continents abound; telling of great natural cataclysm's that tore the Earth
open and saw it swallowed by the sea. Hawaii is such a story in reverse, for here the ripped Earth
poured molten lava from its depths to create new land. Slowly, over countless centuries,
fractures on the Pacific Ocean floor opened and reopened, piling new layers of lava atop the old.
There 18,000 feet below the sea's surface, Hawaii began to form. One by one the present
Islands. . . Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, Kahoolawe, Kauai and Niihau reached toward the
surface, finally emerging as volcanic craters, the tips of submerged mountains whose bases
hugged the ocean floor. Yet these mountain-top Islands were not to grow forever. As volcanic
activity creased, new elements began to change them. Rain, wind and waves took these rounded
dome-like volcano's and carved valleys, mountains and cliffs from brittle volcanic rock. Slowly soil
and beaches began to form.
As ice ages came and went, sea level rose and fell, at times submerging lowland coast, at other
times creating new land from shallow sea bed and coral reef's. Occasionally new eruptions
would take place. Landmarks like Diamond Head and Koko Head on Oahu are the remains of
such later eruptions. Slowly plant life arrived: seeds and spores carried by water and wind to
Hawaii's barren lava slopes. These in turn played their part in re-designing the Island, turning
rock to soil and covering the land with the lush green that is an ever present part of today's
Hawaii.
And the process of change is still not complete. Mauna Loa and Kilauea on the Island of Hawaii
are amongst the most active volcano's on Earth, Still spewing forth lava rivers, adding to Hawaii's
size and the sea, the archipelago continues to grow, telling the story not only of Hawaii's present,
but of a past that reaches back millions of years.
Hawaiian History
LIFE IN OLD HAWAII
When Polynesians first arrived in the Hawaiian Islands, sometime around the year 700 A.D., they
brought with them the language, customs and beliefs of the south Seas. Although they had been
Island people for many centuries before their arrival in Hawaii, scientists now trace their origins to
Asia. The long path that brought them to Hawaii crossed southeast Asia, Indonesia, and from
there meant island hoping voyages that saw them cross much of the Pacific. Hawaii was one of
their last discoveries.
They travelled the open seas in double hulled outrigger canoes, caring with them not only
provisions for their long voyages, but supplies, plants and animals from their home islands with
which to settle and start anew. Banana, sugar cane, taro, chickens, pigs and dogs all reach
Hawaii in this way. The Polynesians also brought with them a social system in which rank was of
utmost importance.
The ruling chiefs, called alii (ah lee ee) were hereditary leaders and warriors descended from the
Gods. Both men and women held alii rank. The kahuna (ka hu na) class served the alii as both
political and spiritual advisors. Theirs was a powerful alliance which controlled the population of
fishermen and farmers through strictly enforced tabus which unalterably determined the limits of
everyone's freedoms. Death was a common punishment for the breaking of tabus. In return for
the protection the alii offered the people, they were supported by taxes paid in goods and
services. The Hawaiians lived an outdoor life. Their homes were simple; wooden frames covered
with leaf thatching. Woven mats were about the only furnishings. Clothing was also quite simple.
Nakedness was not uncommon, but often wore a loincloth called a malo (ma low), while women
wore a short skirt. Both were made from a cloth of beaten bark called tapa (ta pa) which was
dyed of printed with geometric designs much like that on Hawaiian fabric sold widely today.
Woven fiber sandals and capes were also commonly worn as was shell and bone jewelery.
To the Hawaiians, the sea was as much a home as was the land. Surfing, swimming and
canoeing were well established pass-times, and fishing provided a basic supply of food. AS
fishermen, the ancient Hawaiians were unsurpassed. Using nets, traps spears and even their
bare hands, they developed unique methods for catching wide variety of fish and other sea life.
But not all the Hawaiians were fishermen. Inland, farming of taro was the most common
occupation. Cooked and pounded, the taro root provided the Hawaiians with another food staple,
poi.
When Polynesians first arrived in the Hawaiian Islands, sometime around the year 700 A.D., they
brought with them the language, customs and beliefs of the south Seas. Although they had been
Island people for many centuries before their arrival in Hawaii, scientists now trace their origins to
Asia. The long path that brought them to Hawaii crossed southeast Asia, Indonesia, and from
there meant island hoping voyages that saw them cross much of the Pacific. Hawaii was one of
their last discoveries.
They travelled the open seas in double hulled outrigger canoes, caring with them not only
provisions for their long voyages, but supplies, plants and animals from their home islands with
which to settle and start anew. Banana, sugar cane, taro, chickens, pigs and dogs all reach
Hawaii in this way. The Polynesians also brought with them a social system in which rank was of
utmost importance.
The ruling chiefs, called alii (ah lee ee) were hereditary leaders and warriors descended from the
Gods. Both men and women held alii rank. The kahuna (ka hu na) class served the alii as both
political and spiritual advisors. Theirs was a powerful alliance which controlled the population of
fishermen and farmers through strictly enforced tabus which unalterably determined the limits of
everyone's freedoms. Death was a common punishment for the breaking of tabus. In return for
the protection the alii offered the people, they were supported by taxes paid in goods and
services. The Hawaiians lived an outdoor life. Their homes were simple; wooden frames covered
with leaf thatching. Woven mats were about the only furnishings. Clothing was also quite simple.
Nakedness was not uncommon, but often wore a loincloth called a malo (ma low), while women
wore a short skirt. Both were made from a cloth of beaten bark called tapa (ta pa) which was
dyed of printed with geometric designs much like that on Hawaiian fabric sold widely today.
Woven fiber sandals and capes were also commonly worn as was shell and bone jewelery.
To the Hawaiians, the sea was as much a home as was the land. Surfing, swimming and
canoeing were well established pass-times, and fishing provided a basic supply of food. AS
fishermen, the ancient Hawaiians were unsurpassed. Using nets, traps spears and even their
bare hands, they developed unique methods for catching wide variety of fish and other sea life.
But not all the Hawaiians were fishermen. Inland, farming of taro was the most common
occupation. Cooked and pounded, the taro root provided the Hawaiians with another food staple,
poi.
HAWAIIAN RELIGION
AS an outdoor people, the Hawaiians were very aware of the forces of nature that surrounded
them. Their survival depended upon this. Their religion was a form of nature worship in which all
the forces of life and a living Earth were represented by Gods in whom the Hawaiians had great
faith and for whom there was great reverence. No fisherman was without a shrine to the fish god;
no farmer disregarded the power of Lono (Low No). And one all held Kane (Kay ney), the father
of living creatures, and Pele (Pey-ley), the volcano goddess, in awe. These were but some of
the hundreds of Gods that entered into Hawaiian religion. But Hawaiian religion was not simply
idol worship. It revolved around two forces. One was mana (mana), a supra-natural life force
possessed by certain people and objects that could cause good or evil. The other was the kapu
(ka pu) or tabu spoken of earlier which was originally created to assure the proper handling of
mana.
AS an outdoor people, the Hawaiians were very aware of the forces of nature that surrounded
them. Their survival depended upon this. Their religion was a form of nature worship in which all
the forces of life and a living Earth were represented by Gods in whom the Hawaiians had great
faith and for whom there was great reverence. No fisherman was without a shrine to the fish god;
no farmer disregarded the power of Lono (Low No). And one all held Kane (Kay ney), the father
of living creatures, and Pele (Pey-ley), the volcano goddess, in awe. These were but some of
the hundreds of Gods that entered into Hawaiian religion. But Hawaiian religion was not simply
idol worship. It revolved around two forces. One was mana (mana), a supra-natural life force
possessed by certain people and objects that could cause good or evil. The other was the kapu
(ka pu) or tabu spoken of earlier which was originally created to assure the proper handling of
mana.
AN HAWAIIAN MYTH
Before the missionaries created an Hawaiian alphabet, all learning was transmitted orally from
generations to generation. One of the favorite means of teaching history or religion was through
telling tales. Many of these revolved around the Gods and Goddesses of Hawaiian religion. One
such story is about the demi-God Maui. Maui was a well loved mischief maker who with his many
incredible deeds helped mankind. Like Promethius he introduced fire to man. Unlike Promethius
he also fished the Islands from the sea. One of the favorite stories about Maui tells how he
snared the sun and forced it to bend to his will.
Maui had been disturbed by the speed with which the sun crossed the heavens. As fishermen,
he and his brothers did not have time to catch all they needed. Furthermore the taro patches of
his mother Hina did not have time to mature and be harvested. Never one without a solution to a
problem, Maui climbed the great mountain which the sun passed over every day. AS the sun's
rays crept over the mountain rim, Maui snared them and held them fast with his ropes. "Give me
my life," pleaded the sun. "Surely I will give you your life, if you promise to move more slowly
across the heavens," Maui replied. To this the sun agreed, and to the great benefit of mankind,
the sun now moves more slowly across the sky allowing plenty of time for man to fish and harvest
his crops.
Before the missionaries created an Hawaiian alphabet, all learning was transmitted orally from
generations to generation. One of the favorite means of teaching history or religion was through
telling tales. Many of these revolved around the Gods and Goddesses of Hawaiian religion. One
such story is about the demi-God Maui. Maui was a well loved mischief maker who with his many
incredible deeds helped mankind. Like Promethius he introduced fire to man. Unlike Promethius
he also fished the Islands from the sea. One of the favorite stories about Maui tells how he
snared the sun and forced it to bend to his will.
Maui had been disturbed by the speed with which the sun crossed the heavens. As fishermen,
he and his brothers did not have time to catch all they needed. Furthermore the taro patches of
his mother Hina did not have time to mature and be harvested. Never one without a solution to a
problem, Maui climbed the great mountain which the sun passed over every day. AS the sun's
rays crept over the mountain rim, Maui snared them and held them fast with his ropes. "Give me
my life," pleaded the sun. "Surely I will give you your life, if you promise to move more slowly
across the heavens," Maui replied. To this the sun agreed, and to the great benefit of mankind,
the sun now moves more slowly across the sky allowing plenty of time for man to fish and harvest
his crops.
HAWAIIAN HISTORY: FROM CAPTAIN COOK TO THE PRESENT
1778: English explorer, Captain James Cook sights the Hawaiian Islands while exploring the
Pacific. One year later he is killed in a skirmish on the Big Island.
1790: Kamehameha I, first and greatest of Hawaii's kings, starts his conquest of Hawaiian Islands
gaining control of Hawaii, Maui and Molokai.
1795: Kamehameha I gains control of Oahu after a great battle on the Nuuanu Pali.
1810: Kamehameha I gains control of Kauai and Niihau. He is the first King of all the Hawaiian
Islands.
1819: Kamehameha I dies. His son Liholiho proclaimed Kamehameha II. He declares the old
Hawaiian religion dead. The first American whaling ships arrive in Hawaii.
1820: First American missionaries arrive from New England. Within a few years they convert the
royal family and many of the commoners. Within fifteen years they have created an
Hawaiian alphabet, started schools and begun printing many books and newspapers.
1778: English explorer, Captain James Cook sights the Hawaiian Islands while exploring the
Pacific. One year later he is killed in a skirmish on the Big Island.
1790: Kamehameha I, first and greatest of Hawaii's kings, starts his conquest of Hawaiian Islands
gaining control of Hawaii, Maui and Molokai.
1795: Kamehameha I gains control of Oahu after a great battle on the Nuuanu Pali.
1810: Kamehameha I gains control of Kauai and Niihau. He is the first King of all the Hawaiian
Islands.
1819: Kamehameha I dies. His son Liholiho proclaimed Kamehameha II. He declares the old
Hawaiian religion dead. The first American whaling ships arrive in Hawaii.
1820: First American missionaries arrive from New England. Within a few years they convert the
royal family and many of the commoners. Within fifteen years they have created an
Hawaiian alphabet, started schools and begun printing many books and newspapers.
| 1 2 |
