A Cultural History of Hawaii

Aloha! A Culture History of Hawai‟i By Hanna Beth “Po‟o „Ele‟ele” Blum and Chris “Kilika” Liang November 12, 2001 Mapu ka hanu o ka laua‟e Mapu noe ka poli o ka wai aloha Aloha I ke kapa „ehu kai, Wafted is the breath of the lau‟e fern. The essence of the beloved waters alights like mist. Beloved is the covering of the sea spray, Hauki palai, huki, lohe, noi kahau. Noe mai la ka lehua makanoe. Noe ka lehua makanoe, Noe wiwo‟ole I ke anu, Drawing concealment listening, inquiring intently. The lehua of the misty face brings mist. The lehua of the misty face brings mist. The mist unafraid of the cold, The cold of the pathway of life. Anu I ke ala kipapa ola e, Ala e kuhikuhi lima kanaka „o Mauna Hina e. E hina no paha „o wau wale no. E hina no paha e kaua, e ka‟aha nui e. Alia lae! Mauna Hina is a pathway directing mankind. Perhaps it is just I who will succumb. Perhaps you and I, or the large assembly, will Succumb. Wait! He anu, he anu wale no Cold, just cold! A Brief History of Hawai‟i • AD 500-700 – settled by Polynesians from the Marquesa Islands 11-14th centuries – Tahitians took over islands 300,000 Hawaiians lived on islands when Captain Cook arrived 1778 – Captain Cook landed in Waimea, Kaua„i. 1810 – King Kamehamela unified islands for first time • • • • The Polynesian Islands More History…get excited • 1820 - First missionaries arrived from Boston • 1835 - Established sugar cane plantations • 1848 - King Kamehameha III proclaimed the Great Mahele (division), changing the concept of land ownership • 1850 – Foreigners can buy land and work in sugar and pineapple plantations • 1893 – Coup forces Queen Liliuokalani to abdicate thrown. Monarchy is overthrown • 1894 – Republic of Hawaii is established • 1900 – US annexes Hawaii and creates the Territory of Hawaii • 1941 – Pearl Harbor bombing • 1950 – Hawaii becomes the 50th state of the Union Mythology In the beginning… • Po – vast and empty land • Spirit Keawe formed the sky and sun from Po‟a, a single flame • Transformed into Nawahine (daughter) and Kane (sun-god) • Royal family: - Ku (war) - Lono (wisdom, rain) - Kane (natural phenomenon) - Kanaloa (fishermen) - Lake (hula) - Hina (underwater) - Papa (nature) -Milu (spirit world) Poli’ahu The snow goddess Polynesian Voyage Two legends  Hawai‟iloa, a fisherman from land of Ka‟Aina Kai Melemelea Kane (land of the yellow sea of Kane) - Big Island named after him - Maui, Kaua‟I, and O‟ahu named after his sons - All Hawaiians are his descendents  Tafa‟i (son of underwater goddess) saw volcanoes undersea and fished up the islands  Strong connection between legends of discovery and fishing Canoes • Built with tools of stone, bone, and corals • Dug out of tree trunks or planks sewn together • Sails made from coconut or pandulus leaves woven together • Could travel 2000 miles (Hawai‟i to Tahiti) • Faster than Cpt Cook‟s ships • No navigational equipment A deck bridged two hulls for longer voyages. Ancient Culture • Culturally similar to inhabitants of Tonga and Somoan Islands • Language, archeological, and biological evidence points to Hiva (Marquesa) Islands as origin 1976 Bicentennial Celebration of American Independence – Reenact voyage from Hawai‟i to Tahiti Captain Cook • British sailor • 3 voyages to Pacific • 1778 landed in Waimea, Kaua'I; received in peace • 1778 – returned to distrusting Hawaiians; perished on the beach HMS Resolution He‟e nalu • • • • • • 1500 AD 1779 Captain King 1820 Missionaries 1890 Almost Extinct 1905 Beach Boys 1907 Demonstration Tropical Sounds • Mele – chant • Percussion instruments – Ipu – dried gourd – „Ili‟ili – water worn shoes, clapper • Modern – Ukulele – Guitar, slack-key Ukulele, „ili‟ili, ipu The Sacred Art of Hula “Hula is the language of the people and therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people” --King David Kalakaua • Laka – goddess of the hula • Ancient hula (Hula kahiko) – Dances and chanting during ceremonies – Proud and somber history, customs • Modern Hula (Hula auwana) – Spirited dance – Multicultural practice Come on I wanna lei ya • Stringing of individual flowers on a strand • Many types, unique for each island Lei niho palaoa Feather lei Lei pikake •Ancient symbol of rank •Shell, bone, human hair •Worn by ali‟I •Solid yellow •Jasmine •Marriage “May Day is Lei Day in Hawai‟i” May 1, 1928 Celebrate Hawaiian culture and traditions Don Blanding Hula dancers Ancient and modern hula competitions Lei maile Fragrant vine Common lei Peace offering Graduation Lu‟au A Hawai‟ian feast • War victories, marriages, harvests, royalty •Important to honor gods, share good fortune •Cook food in an imu •Popular tourist activity Colonialism When the colonialist arrived they had the Bible, and we had the land. They said, “Hallelujah! Let us pray,” and suggested that we pray with our eyes closed. When we opened our eyes, we had the Bible, “Progress and Enlightenment to benighted savages” „ Religion „ Education „ Racial Hierarchy Educational Rationale Concept Intellect Native Hawaiian Feelings & Emotions Included Learning Has Aesthetic or Practical Use Western Separation of Cognitive & Affective Domains Theory Vs. Practice Still Unresolved Knowledge Who Decides? • Pre-1800s = Hawaii • Mid-1800s = Hawai‟ian Nobility & U.S. Missionaries • Late 1800s – WWII = U.S. Businesses, Descendants of Missionaries, One-Party System • Present = Gov & One-Party State-Legislature Education: Teaching them the White Culture • Heathen Society in need of Christian Values • Edu to Devaluate Native Culture • Institutionalize Religious Beliefs Stage 2. . . • 1893 – New Power • Centralized School System w/ Preference Towards Whites • Few Independent Schools • Elimination of Hawaiian Language in Classroom rd 3 Stage •Between World Wars •Segregation •Newfound Respect for “Minorities” •Edu = Pathway to Economic Prosperity •Multiracial Leadership •Increased Citizenship •Abolition of Segregation by 1954 Post WWII State Constitution: Article X, Sect 4 “The State shall promote the study of Hawaiian culture, history, and language.” Fourth Stage English and Hawaiian Recognized as Official Languages Lake Pu‟uWaiau swirling water lake • • • • 3rd highest alpine lake in United States Sacred to Native Hawaiians 10 telescopes on Mauna Kea Hawaiian graffitti The End