This document provides an overview of Hawaiian mythology and legends. It defines key terms like mo'olelo (legend) and ka'ao (folktale). It discusses Hawaiian newspapers and outlines the common structure of myths using the four H's: Hua (the catalyst), Ha Alele' (the separation), Huaka I' (the journey), and Ho I' (the return). It also describes common motifs in Hawaiian myths like hō'ailona (omens), sole survivors, and recognition tokens. Birth, death, and rebirth are also important motifs as well as place names having deep significance.

1. WEEK 2 LECTUREWEEK 2 LECTURE
HAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGYHAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGY
HWST 104HWST 104

2. TERMINOLOGYTERMINOLOGY
 KAKAʻʻAOAO
 Fanciful story or tale; usually fictionFanciful story or tale; usually fiction
 An embellished moAn embellished moʻʻoleloolelo
 MOMOʻʻOLELOOLELO
 LegendLegend
 Historical in natureHistorical in nature
 DocumentationDocumentation
 MOʻOKAʻAOMOʻOKAʻAO
 FolktaleFolktale
 MELEMELE
 Chant/song form of kaChant/song form of kaʻʻao or meleao or mele
 More poetic in natureMore poetic in nature

3. NĀ NŪPEPA HAWAI`INĀ NŪPEPA HAWAI`I
Hawaiian NewspapersHawaiian Newspapers
 Ka Lama Hawai`i (studentKa Lama Hawai`i (student
newspaper) printed onnewspaper) printed on
February 14, 1834February 14, 1834
 Ke Kumu Hawai`i (1Ke Kumu Hawai`i (1stst
regularly published )later thatregularly published )later that
yearyear
 Ka Hōkū o ka Pākīpika: 1Ka Hōkū o ka Pākīpika: 1stst
newspaper established by anewspaper established by a
Native HawaiianNative Hawaiian

4. HAWAIIAN MYTHS &HAWAIIAN MYTHS &
LEGENDSLEGENDS
 Distinction between kaDistinction between kaʻʻao as fiction andao as fiction and
momoʻʻolelo as fact would lie in the intention ofolelo as fact would lie in the intention of
the story. Kathe story. Kaʻʻao are composed to tickle theao are composed to tickle the
fancy versus mofancy versus moʻʻolelo, which are composed toolelo, which are composed to
inform the mind as to supposed events.inform the mind as to supposed events.
 Hawaiian legends and myths occupy anHawaiian legends and myths occupy an
important place in both the history of theimportant place in both the history of the
islands and in the understanding of Hawaiianislands and in the understanding of Hawaiian
culture today.culture today.

5. 4 H’s of Myth
 Hua
(The Catalyst)
 Ha aleleʻ
(The Separation)
 Huaka iʻ
(The Journey)
 Ho iʻ
(The Return)

6. HUA:
The Catalyst
 Hua: egg, seed or
result, effect
 The call to adventure.
The person, thing or
event that launches the
entire myth. It is the
thing that causes the
journey to happen.

7. HA ALELE:ʻ
The Separation
 Ha alele: to leave, abandon, or evacuateʻ
 The point at which the main character
separates from the community and embarks on
the journey
 It means leaving the familiar landscape or the
environment in which one is comfortable into
an unknown realm where the rules and limits
are unknown

8. HUAKA I:ʻ
The Journey
 Huaka`i: a journey, a mission,
to travel
 The main character often
undergoes a series of tests,
tasks, ordeals or challenges
that he/she is required to
accomplish as part of the
adventure
 Experiences and lessons are
learned that leads us to our
ancient selves

9. HUAKA IʻHUAKA Iʻ
 Typified by a trail or path
 If the path is steep, it often alludes to
difficulties
 The main character may meet up
with a mentor
 Mentor: people you meet along the
way who assist you such as an old
lady/man, talking animals, fairy
godmother, relatives, etc.
 Everything and everyone in a
journey are necessary for growth

10. HUAKA IʻHUAKA Iʻ
 The journey is often times violent andThe journey is often times violent and
graphic in image.graphic in image.
 It is here in the huaka`i that the mo`oIt is here in the huaka`i that the mo`o
(water spirits) are killed while(water spirits) are killed while
journeying through the forest or thejourneying through the forest or the
manō (sharks) are slaughtered beforemanō (sharks) are slaughtered before
treading through the ocean, from onetreading through the ocean, from one
shore to the next.shore to the next.
 It is here that the main character isIt is here that the main character is
introduced to their internal demonsintroduced to their internal demons
and monsters that are transposed onand monsters that are transposed on
the landscape of his/her journey.the landscape of his/her journey.

11. THE CROSSROADTHE CROSSROAD
 It is at this point thatIt is at this point that
the main characterthe main character
confronts the final legconfronts the final leg
of the ritual…..of the ritual…..
Do I return to society?Do I return to society?
Do I leave society?Do I leave society?
This leads us to……..This leads us to……..

12. HO I:ʻ
The Return Ho i: a return, to go back, to come back, toʻ
leave with the intention of returning back to
where you first came
 After answering the call to adventure and
meeting its trials, the main character must
return and integrate back into the community
 The main character returns to the ordinary world
with an item or awareness that will benefit the
society left earlier
 The main character returns to tell his/her story and
to serve as inspiration for others who have not yet
answered their call

13. DIFFERENT FACETS TODIFFERENT FACETS TO
CONSIDER IN HAWAIIANCONSIDER IN HAWAIIAN
MYTHS & LEGENDSMYTHS & LEGENDS
 Historical ElementsHistorical Elements
 Documentation of Place NamesDocumentation of Place Names
 Names have a lot of mana (spiritual power/force). They areNames have a lot of mana (spiritual power/force). They are
incorporated into myths/legends/mele for a reason.incorporated into myths/legends/mele for a reason.
 11stst
hula, important events, etc.hula, important events, etc.
 Biographical ElementsBiographical Elements
 Gods, goddesses, deities, etc.Gods, goddesses, deities, etc.
 Characters of the storyCharacters of the story
 The meaning of people’s names often have a lot of manaThe meaning of people’s names often have a lot of mana
and can add insight into the characterand can add insight into the character

14. DIFFERENT FACETS TODIFFERENT FACETS TO
CONSIDER IN HAWAIIANCONSIDER IN HAWAIIAN
MYTHS & LEGENDSMYTHS & LEGENDS
 Cultural ElementsCultural Elements
 Culture of familyCulture of family
 Social protocolSocial protocol
 Oli (chants)Oli (chants)
 Social orderSocial order
 MedicineMedicine
 Arts and craftsArts and crafts

15. COMMON MOTIFS INCOMMON MOTIFS IN
HAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGYHAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGY
 HōHōʻʻailonaailona
 Omens or predictions within a storyOmens or predictions within a story
 A prophecy of what is to comeA prophecy of what is to come
 Names of characters or place names often provideNames of characters or place names often provide
insight into the characters’ attributes, personalityinsight into the characters’ attributes, personality
and/or the plot of the story.and/or the plot of the story.
 ie: Wailuku is the name of a river in Hilo. Wailukuie: Wailuku is the name of a river in Hilo. Wailuku
literally means “destructive water,” so it gives you an idealiterally means “destructive water,” so it gives you an idea
of the kind of river it isof the kind of river it is

16. COMMON MOTIFS INCOMMON MOTIFS IN
HAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGYHAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGY
 Sole SurvivorSole Survivor
 The remaining survivor who is left behind to tell the storyThe remaining survivor who is left behind to tell the story
or report what happened to othersor report what happened to others
 Recognition TokenRecognition Token
 Magical things of power belonging to certain peopleMagical things of power belonging to certain people
 Special items given by a chief to a mistressSpecial items given by a chief to a mistress
 The items are often given with the instructions that any child bornThe items are often given with the instructions that any child born
of the affair is to present them to the chief to gain recognition thatof the affair is to present them to the chief to gain recognition that
he is his childhe is his child
 Typical items include things that are worn, such as malo, lei, capes,Typical items include things that are worn, such as malo, lei, capes,
etc.etc.

17. COMMON MOTIFS INCOMMON MOTIFS IN
HAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGYHAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGY
 Birth/Death/Rebirth
 Mo`okū`auhau, or genealogy, is very important to
the Hawaiian people. Most myths & legends begin
with some form of genealogy
 In mythology, births may be supernatural
 Rebirth - To experience another existence such
as the changing from one life form to another
 Reincarnation (animal, live being)
 Transformation (stones, cliff heads)

18. DON’T FORGET………DON’T FORGET………
 The images of myth speak directly to a personThe images of myth speak directly to a person
with a unique message.with a unique message.
 What the myth and its symbols mean to oneWhat the myth and its symbols mean to one
person, may be different from another person.person, may be different from another person.
It may even mean something different to theIt may even mean something different to the
same person at a different time in their life.same person at a different time in their life.
 Myths can always be revisited and somethingMyths can always be revisited and something
new can always be learned from them!new can always be learned from them!