Honors Hawaiian History Notes Unit 1

Flashcards on Hawaiian History covering topics like creation stories, migration theory, religion, social classes, and the Ahupua'a system.

Wākea

The Sky Father in Hawaiian mythology.

Papa

The Earth Mother in Hawaiian mythology.

Hāloanaka

The Kalo plant, sibling to the Hawaiian Islands in creation story.

Hāloa

The first Ali’i Nui and ancestor of all Hawaiians, named after his older brother, the Kalo plant.

Kumuhonua

The first man mentioned in Hawai’i, created by the threefold god.

Ke Kolu Akua

The threefold god, likely Kāne, Kū, and Lono, who created heaven and earth.

Kanaloa

The evil-doing god who created bitter-tasting and deadly things.

Kānehulihonua

Another name for the first man, Kumuhonua.

Keakahulilani

The first woman, created out of the side of Kumuhonua’s shadow.

Kumulipo

A genealogy/origin chant written for Kalani’Ī’imamao, essential themes of birth and duality.

Kalani’Ī’imamao

The chief for whom the Kumulipo was written.

Pōlele

The first woman of darkness.

Polytheism

Belief in multiple gods (2+).

Monotheism

Belief in one god.

Atheism

Disbelief in gods or higher beings.

Akua

The category of Hawaiian spirits that includes the 4 major male gods: Kū, Lono, Kāne, and Kanaloa.

Kupua

Demigods in Hawaiian religion; earthbound forms of the Akua (e.g., Hina, Maui, Pele).

Aumakua

Family guardians, or guardians of a practice or individuals in Hawaiian religion.

Unihi Pili

Friendly spirits on earth (e.g., Menehune, Night marchers) in Hawaiian religion.

Kinolau

Physical representation of the gods on earth. Bears the mana/energy of that god

Kū-nui-a-kea

The main form of Kū, the god of war & diplomacy.

Luakini

The most elaborate heiau built for Kū, requiring human sacrifice.

Heiau

A Hawaiian temple or sacred place.

Lana-Nu’u-Mamao

A prophetic tower used in many heiau, with three tiers/levels.

Lono-nui-akea

God of peace, agriculture, fertility, winds, dark rain clouds, rain, & sounds of wind and rain at sea.

Mapele

Heiau dedicated to Lono, a place where people prayed for rain and abundant crops.

Kāne-nui-akea

The procreator, provider of sunlight, freshwater, and life substances.

Pohaku ‘o Kane

A large phallic stone where kanaka could pray for rain, life, etc.

Kanaloa

God of the ocean and ocean winds, healer, and associated with sea travel.

Ahu

Altars/shrines for everyone to use for worship.

Ko’a/Ku’ahu

A fishing shrine.

Waihau/Unu

A farming shrine.

Pu’uhonua

Place of refuge.

Ahupua’a

A fully functioning ecosystem land division from the mountain to the sea.

Mokupuni

Island - ocean boundary.

Moku

District.

‘Ili

Subdivision of the ahupua’a.

Ma’ilikūkahi

Oahu ali’i who invented the ahupua’a system.

Wao Akua

Highest wao, top ⅔ of the mountain ranges where the gods dwell.

Wao Kele

Rainforest.

Wao La’au

Inland dryland forested region.

Wao Kanaka

Populated areas where man dwells.

Wao Akea/Kahakai

Ocean and beach.

Lawai’a

Fishermen.

Imu

Cooking pit (usually 2, with 1 per gender).

Hale Mua

Men eating house.

Hale ‘Aina

Women's eating house (and certain children).

Hale Kua

Kapa beating house.

Loko I’a

Fishpond - the best food production system in all of mankind to date.

Hale Wa’a

Canoe storage.

Ali’i ‘ai Ahupua’a

Chief of the ahupua’as house.

Hale Pe’a

Menstrual house.

Lo’i

Hundreds of varieties of kalo/taro.

Mahi’ai

Farmers.

Halau Hula

Hula house.

Hale Ho’ola

Healing house.

Kauhale

House grouping/communities where people lived and worked in the ahupua’a.

Mākāhā

A gate that allows small fish in but big fish out as they grow.

Loko Kuapa

Coastal fishpond.

Loko Pu’uone

Brackish fishpond.

Loko Wai

Freshwater fishpond.

Kuleana

Rights and responsibilities.

Kanaka

People.

Hele-Lā

Those who follow the sun. Navigators and seafarers who migrate over time.

Aha Council

A group of leaders of different tribes.

Pa’ao

High priest of Borabora who brought a new system to the islands.

Pilika’ai’ea

Ali’i nui (high chief) of Hawai’i island brought by Pa’ao.

Mō’ī

Ali’i nui (high chief).

Ali’i ‘Ai Moku

Chief of the district.

Ali’i ‘Ai Ahupua’a

Chief of the ahupua’a.

Ali’i Pi’o

full-blooded sibling’s child

Ali’i Naha

Half-sibling’s child.

Ali’i Wohi

A close relative's child.

Kaukau ali’i

Lesser chiefs who serve the ali’i nui.

Maka’ainana

The commoners.