The development of a people is based on three categories which contain the quality of food supply, the relationship to other peoples and the religion whereas the latter probably most influences the intellectual advancement. This is because man's intelligence increases when he observes the different aspects of nature and life which have an effect on him. To understand natural phenomena and to gain a relation to those he creates gods, ghosts and supreme beings. Thus his fancy and imagination develop expressed by songs and legends in which the people combine facets of life, death and nature with supernatural creatures. Literature and art evolve by and by indicating cultural progress. Although the Hawaiians had an oral culture and therefore no written language, their intellectual advancement developed fast because of their uncountable songs and legends they repeated at fireplaces and feasts.1
What kind of religion did the Hawaiians create that made them develop so fast? Which gods and ghosts did they invent to explain the natural phenomena they didn't understand or they filled with their imagination? Through summarizing the main Hawaiian gods and godesses below, I will give the necessary basis of knowledge to analyse the interpendent relationship between them and the Hawaiian people. This mutual influence abounds mainly in legends and songs, in worship and in the structure of the Hawaiian society. In conclusion, the results are brought together to decide how much the religion influenced ancient Hawaiian society and how distinctive the relationship between men and gods was. In doing so I will basically refer to Martha Beckwith‘s book Hawaiian mythology from 1940.
Table of Contents
I Introduction
II The various Hawaiian gods
III Different kinds of worship
IV The influences of religion on the Hawaiian society
V The relationship between Hawaiians and gods in legends
VI Conclusion
VII References
VII.1. Internet
VII.2 Books and other publications
Objectives & Core Topics
This paper examines the central role of religion in ancient Hawaiian society, specifically focusing on the interdependent relationship between the Hawaiian people and their deities. It explores how mythology, ritual practices, and the rigid social hierarchy were intrinsically linked to the spiritual and natural world.
- The pantheon of main and subordinate Hawaiian deities
- Various forms of worship and ritual obligations
- The influence of the Kapu system on social structure and daily life
- The role of oral traditions and legends in shaping divine and human history
- The interconnection between nature, mythology, and political power
Excerpt from the Book
II The various Hawaiian gods
Like in ancient Greece, the Hawaiians didn't worship one God for everything on earth and in heaven but had many specific gods and supreme beings of different ranks. Each of them represented one special aspect of life or nature. For example, the deity Laka was the goddess of the Hula dance. According to E.S.C. Handy, “the gods of the Polynesians were personified concepts that, on the one hand, embodied the desires and needs, the hopes and dreads of their worshippers and on the other hand, individualised the elements and forces that they observed in nature.”
There was an infinite number of these gods that were separated in subordinate and main deities. The Hawaiians worshipped eight important gods, six male and two female, whereas four male were the main gods called Kane, Ku, Lono and Kanaloa. The other four were Keawe, the ancestor of all of the gods, his daughter Na Wahine and the goddess Papa and the god Wakea who ruled over heaven and earth.
The scholars have different opinions about the roots of these main deities. On the one hand the gods could have been once predominant chiefs who were apotheosised after their death so that the gods would have had human origin. On the other hand they could also have been conceived at first as nature deities like the goddess Pele who represented the volcano.
Summary of Chapters
I Introduction: This chapter introduces the basis of Hawaiian culture and the influence of religion on intellectual development, outlining the paper's focus on ancient Hawaiian mythology.
II The various Hawaiian gods: This section provides an overview of the complex Hawaiian pantheon, categorizing the deities by their specific roles and origins.
III Different kinds of worship: This chapter details the various rituals and the significance of temples in everyday life, explaining how different social ranks practiced their faith.
IV The influences of religion on the Hawaiian society: This part explores the stratified caste system and the implementation of the Kapu system as a means to regulate society, economy, and politics.
V The relationship between Hawaiians and gods in legends: This chapter analyzes how myths and oral chants created a bridge between the divine and the human experience.
VI Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes how religion acted as the foundation of the Hawaiian social system and its profound impact on every aspect of life in ancient Hawaii.
Keywords
Hawaiian mythology, Ancient Hawaii, Polytheism, Kapu system, Kane, Ku, Lono, Kanaloa, Rituals, Mana, Oral culture, Social hierarchy, Genealogy, Kumulipo, Deities
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper explores the structural and spiritual importance of religion in ancient Hawaiian society and how it shaped the daily lives and social hierarchy of its inhabitants.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The primary themes include the categorization of Hawaiian deities, ritual worship practices, the impact of the Kapu system on social stratification, and the analysis of mythological legends.
What is the central research question of this study?
The study seeks to understand what role religion played in ancient Hawaiian society and how it defined the relationship between the people and their gods.
Which methodology is utilized in this research?
The author primarily employs a qualitative, analytical approach, synthesizing existing literature, historical legends, and cultural studies—most notably Martha Beckwith’s work—to examine religious influence.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body systematically covers the major and subordinate gods, the specific forms of worship, the religious grounding of the political system, and the symbolic interpretation of creation legends.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Keywords such as Hawaiian mythology, Kapu system, Mana, and the various named deities like Kane and Lono define the core content of the research.
Why was the Kapu system significant?
The Kapu system was a set of religious laws that maintained order, regulated the agricultural cycle, and justified the power of the ruling class by creating strict social boundaries.
How did legends impact the perception of gods?
Legends provided a framework where gods were given human-like qualities and anthropomorphic forms, allowing the Hawaiian people to establish a relatable and direct connection with the divine.
What was the role of the aumakua?
Aumakua were guardian spirits or ancestors who protected families and offered guidance, though they were also feared if taboos were disregarded.
- Quote paper
- Elisabeth Yorck (Author), 2009, The relationship between Hawaiians and their gods, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/192059
