Honolulu Star Bulletin. June 24, 1953 - Tales About Hawaii, Clarice B. Taylor
RELIGIOUS KAPUS
RESTRICT THE ALII
Within the sacred grass house with the alii were Kamahoalii II and Moopu'u II. It was there duty to see that the kapus were enforced.
The boy, Kalawainui II, was also present and participating as one of the alii.
RELIGIOUS KAPUS
RESTRICT THE ALII
HIDDEN ALII, No. 8
The story of the hidden alii told by Kauhai to Queen Emma and her mother Kekela had as its background the religious ceremonies of old Hawaii which were totally unknown today by Hawaii's young people.
The time of the story is about 1800. Kamehameha had conquered and pacified Oahu and had stationed his own alii on Oahu as the rulers of each district. Keulua, an uncle of Moopu'u II, was the Konohiki (district manager) and tax collector for the king at Kalua-nui (Big Hole) near Punaluu on Windward Oahu.
The settling of the story is a heiau temple in Kona, Hawaii, dedicated to the war god Ku.
The occasion was one of the rigurous 10 day ceremonies for dedicating and setting up a new ohia wood image of the god. Services began when the ohia image had been hauled from a location in the forest to the heiau. Carving of the image had been done in the forest.
The occasion was one of the rigurous 10 day ceremonies for dedicating and setting up a new ohia wood image of the god. Services began when the ohia image had been hauled from a location in the forest to the heiau. Carving of the image had been done in the forest.
DEDICATION SERVICE
The order of the Ku priests, plus the priests of the Kane and Kanaloa orders were assembled within the walls of the great stone heiau altar. To conduct the services which lased day and night.
With the priests were the king, all the male alii of the court and as many commoners as would attended such a rigorous service. No women were allowed.
The king and the highest alii assembled in a grass house built near the heiau altar. The alii were not allowed to go outside the grass house during that 10 day period. The front of the house, facing the altar, was open so that they could take part in the service without being seen by the commoners.
There were no toilet facilities in this sacred house. Such facilities would be a defilement to the place. Slave attendants of the alii served their masters by thrusting vessels through the thatch of the outside wall of the house.
GODS IN PROCESSION
Kamohoalii I was one of the principal priests taking part in the services.
At one point, he led the procession of the priests who paraded about the altar carrying the images of their many gods. At other times, he led the ceremonies in which Kamohoalii and the priests said responsive prayers.
The boy, Kalawainui II, was also present and participating as one of the alii.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Source: https://familysearch.org/patron/v2/TH-300-43958-0-84/dist.pdf?ctx=ArtCtxPublic
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