This document provides an overview of various aspects of traditional Hawaiian culture, including sports (paheʻe), symbols of royalty (lei niho palaoa and kāhili feather standards), uses of ʻawa root in ceremonies and medicine, lunar phases and heiau places of worship. It also describes games like pāpuhene and kilu as well as burial practices focused on protecting the iwi or bones of royalty which were believed to contain mana or spiritual power.
2. PAHEʻE
• Spear throwing
• Dart throwing
• Sport of sliding a stick over a smooth
surface
• It is said that the darts are about 34.5 to 67
inches long, tampering at one end, with
the greatest diameter from 1 to 1 ½ inches
3. TOKENS OF RECOGNITION
• Lei Niho Palaoa
– Lei niho palaoa were one of the most
important symbols of rank in ancient
Hawaiʻi
– A whale tooth was strung on thousands
of finely braided strands of human hair
– Lit. ivory lei
• Malo
• War club
Lei Niho Palaoa
4. KĀ HILI
• Feather standard, symbolic of
royalty
• Kāhili marked the presence of
chiefly individuals and were
believed to provide spiritual
protection
• ʻŌlelo Noʻeau
He aliʻ i ka moa
The rooster is a chief
The rooster sleeps on a high perch.
His feathers are used in kāhili.
5. Ā NUENUE - ʻŌlelo Noʻeau
• Ke ʻ ehu wāwae no ka lani
The rain, the rainbow, and other
signs seen when a chief is
abroad are tokens of his
recognition by the gods
• Kau ka ʻōnohi aliʻ i i luna
A rainbow – a sign that the gods
are watching the chiefs – is now
visible
6. ʻAWA
• Native to the Pacific islands
• A shrub 1.2 to 3.5 m tall with green
jointed stems and heart-shaped leaves
• The root is the source of a narcotic
drink of the same name used in
ceremonies, prepared formerly by
chewing, later by pounding. The
comminuted particles were mixed with
water and strained. When drunk to
excess, it caused drowsiness.
• It was also used medicinally
7. PHASES OF THE MOON
• Hawaiians measured the
progression of days using a series
of knowledge about the moon, sun,
stars, and other cycles.
• Each lunar phase has a specific
name in Hawaiian. They were
associated with certain kapu.
• Today, they are still used as guides
for times to plant, fish, and gather.
• Link to Moon Calendar
8. HEIAU
• Pre-Christian place of worship
• Some heiau were elaborately constructed stone platforms,
others were simple earth structures
• There are many different kinds of heiau, including the
following:
– Heiau hoʻōla; heiau for treating sick
– Heiau hoʻoulu ʻai: heiau where first fruits were offered to insure
further growth
– Luakini: large heiau where ruling chiefs prayed and human
sacrifices were offered
9. NĀ PĀʻ ANI: Games
• Pāpuhene
– Also known as pūhenehene
– A stone or piece of wood called noʻa was
hidden on the person of a player, and the
other players tried to guess on whom it was
hidden. It was sometimes accompanied by
gambling.
10. NĀ PĀʻ ANI: Games
• Kilu
– A small gourd or coconut shell, usually cut lengthwise, as used
for storing small, choice objects, or to feed favorite children
from
– Used also as a quoit in the kilu game: the player chanted as he
tossed the kilu towards an object placed in front of one of the
opposite sex. If he hit the goal, he claimed a kiss
• Lōkū
– A game, perhaps like kilu
– A place for indoor games; evening entertainment
11. NĀ IWI: Bones
• It is believed that one’s iwi contains much mana
• Iwi, particularly those of royal lineage, needed to be
kept safe from potential wrongdoers
• As such, burial was not the usual practice
• Iwi were taken to a safe hiding place by a kahu
(guardian) who went alone in the night so that no
one but he would know where they were placed.
