► Molokai's Iliili-opae: Rituals - 14

Honolulu Star Bulletin. Tuesday, January 29, 1957 - Tales about Hawaii, Clarice B. Taylor

     The rituals used in the month-long dedication ceremonies of Iliili-opae heiau at Mapulehu Molokai were very dramatic.

     Each service was named for the particular long prayer said by the high priests and his fellow priests.

The scripture was enunciated in the questions asked by the high priest and answered in unison either by the other priests or the congregation.

     The attention of the congregation was held by placing the men in rows and forcing them to hold certain attitudes in absolute quiet.

DIFFERENT RITUALS
     Each object in the temple was blessed with a different ritual. In one, all the chiefs brought their spears and had them blessed.

     In another, the chiefs brought all their family aumakua (guardian gods) and had them dedicated.

     A parade or procession of the gods featured the serious services. Priests brought out the feathered gods, followed by the wooden gods and paraded them around the altar in circles and square formations.

     The hulahula, a sacred hula, was danced at the dedication of the oracle tower while certain priest decorated the tower with banners of white tapa.

     It was also danced at the blessing of the mana house while the house was being covered with a special tasseled net.

800 PIGS KILLED
     At one point in the services, 800 pigs were sacrificed, baked and the congregation feasted on them.

      In another service, the Hakuohia and all the gods were dressed in beautiful white, yellow and red malos (loin clothes).

     The final service at which the human sacrifices were made was called Hono.

     All priests, the king and chiefs took a cleansing sea bath before the Hono service. They planted their aumakua in a protecting row on the sea beach before going into the water.

SEVERE SERVICES
     The exacting Hono service was dreaded because of the hour-long prayer and the severity of the service.

      The audience was seated in rows with the feet crossed, the left foot over the right, the seat firmly fixed and the left palm over the right.

     At a signal from the priest, all raised the right hand with the palm upward. This attitude was held during the entire prayer.

     If anyone moved, the Mu priest hauled the offender from the floor and decreed death for him.

     During the prayer, the human sacrifice was brought into the heiau, strangled and laid upon the altar.

     The service gave the atoning victim and the audience special purification.

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