Showing posts with label Pele. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pele. Show all posts
Monday, April 1, 2013
► Pele Fights with Poliahu, Lilinoe and Waiau
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Thursday, December 3, 1959 - Clarice B. Taylor's Tales about Hawaii
Pele has had a fight with Poliahu, the snow maiden, for many centuries. The fight goes on today although the two have agreed upon a truce.
Poliahu is the snow white maiden who lives most of the year on Mauna Kea. But Poliahu wanders. She often covers Mauna Kea, Hualalai and the crater of Hualalai and the crater of Haleakala with snow.
Poliahu is always seen with a white coat and accompanied by the snow maidens Lilinoe, Waiau and Kahoupokane.
These three have homes on the top of Mauna Kea near or on the beautiful lake Waiau.
SLEDDING
After making her home at Kilauea, Pele took over the mountain Mauna Loa s a portion of her domain. She loved to go sledding down the slopes of Mauna Loa.
One day she was sledding down Mauna Loa when she ran into a group of beautiful maidens. The most beautiful was clad in a white cape. So Pele recognized her as Poliahu. Poliahu greeted Pele and the battle began.
Some think that Pele was angered to have such a beautiful woman tresspassing on her domain.
Pele loosed the greatest flows the Island of Hawaii had ever seen. One of the flows from Mauna Kea which went to the sea formed the penninsula of Laupahohoe (leaf of lava).
So great were the fires, the snow Maidens led by Poliahu, retreated to the top of Mauna Kea and remained there for a long time. Poliahu called the clouds to come and protect her. So they gathered about Mauna Kea and hid her and her maidens. The clouds dropped snow on many of the fire fountains and successfully extinguished them.
Lava choked many of the flowing burning rivers.
Poliahu returned to the battle years later. She has kept the valleys about the foot of Mauna Loa green and fertile.
MAKES TRUCE
Pele has often risen to do battle with Poliahu. She particularly loves to renew the fight from the summit of Mauna Loa. From there she can send streams of Lava which flow to the sea.
Finally Pele made a truce with Poliahu. She agreed to confine her domain to the south of the Island of Hawaii and leave the north Poliahu.
Some say that it is this agreement which keeps Pele from sending one of her flows to Hilo.
Another legend says that Hilo is protected by an agreement which Pele made with Namaka, Queen of the seas. Hilo will always be protected from Pele but she suffers when Namaka sends a tidal wave into Hilo Bay.
NEXT: Pele's Dress
Saturday, March 30, 2013
► Propitiating Pele
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Wednesday, December 2, 1959 - Clarice B. Taylor's "Tales about Hawaii"
If you would have Pele treat you nicely and put on a good show for you, be certain to make an offering when you make a trip to Kilauea.
Tour drivers should ell Visitors about this. A driver does not need to worry about Hawaiians. They know.
A driver does not need to risk contempt by saying: "You should take an offering. The driver can easily say,
"Hawaiian old folks say you should take an offering to Pele in order to please her and keep her in a playful mood."
LOVES FLOWERS
Flowers make the best offerings. She loves flowers and is pleased with a single blossom. When you present the flower by throwing it over the ledge of the pit you should say:
"Here Pele is a flower for you."
In the old days it was easy to find the Lehua, her favorite flower, growing along the road to the Volcano District. When picking the Lehua, select a large one, pick it first and lay it on a rock or high place and say,
"Here Pele is your flower, now may I pick some for myself?"
A visitor does not need to say these things aloud. The address to Pele may be made in a whispering voice, if the visitor fears laughter from others in the party.
Now that thousands are visiting the Volcano area, it would be wise to go prepared with an offering. Pele also likes fruit, chickens, fish and luau leaves.
Hawaiians offer black pigs when there has been some great calamity. For instance, Hawaiians today say that Pele is mad because Waikiki beach is being built up with towering skyscrapers.
In olden days, Hawaiians loved to eat the ohelo berry which grew luxuriously about the volcano area. Pele loves the ohelo and considers it her own particular fruit. Before the Hawaiian ate any, he first offered ohelos to Pele by throwing them in the pit.
Hawaiians also noted that Pele stamped her foot before sending a flow down the mountain. Today's scientist confirm this by measuring the earth tremors which occur before an outbreak.
Flames thrusting themselves through breaks in the lava crust are the fire-spears of Pele's household.
The crackle of the fire-red lava is Pele's coarse voice. It is called "pu." When Hawaiians first heard the sound of a gun being fired, they likened the explosion to Pele's voice and called it "pu."
NEXT: Fight with snow maiden
If you would have Pele treat you nicely and put on a good show for you, be certain to make an offering when you make a trip to Kilauea.
Tour drivers should ell Visitors about this. A driver does not need to worry about Hawaiians. They know.
A driver does not need to risk contempt by saying: "You should take an offering. The driver can easily say,
"Hawaiian old folks say you should take an offering to Pele in order to please her and keep her in a playful mood."
LOVES FLOWERS
Flowers make the best offerings. She loves flowers and is pleased with a single blossom. When you present the flower by throwing it over the ledge of the pit you should say:
"Here Pele is a flower for you."
In the old days it was easy to find the Lehua, her favorite flower, growing along the road to the Volcano District. When picking the Lehua, select a large one, pick it first and lay it on a rock or high place and say,
"Here Pele is your flower, now may I pick some for myself?"
A visitor does not need to say these things aloud. The address to Pele may be made in a whispering voice, if the visitor fears laughter from others in the party.
Now that thousands are visiting the Volcano area, it would be wise to go prepared with an offering. Pele also likes fruit, chickens, fish and luau leaves.
Hawaiians offer black pigs when there has been some great calamity. For instance, Hawaiians today say that Pele is mad because Waikiki beach is being built up with towering skyscrapers.
In olden days, Hawaiians loved to eat the ohelo berry which grew luxuriously about the volcano area. Pele loves the ohelo and considers it her own particular fruit. Before the Hawaiian ate any, he first offered ohelos to Pele by throwing them in the pit.
Hawaiians also noted that Pele stamped her foot before sending a flow down the mountain. Today's scientist confirm this by measuring the earth tremors which occur before an outbreak.
Flames thrusting themselves through breaks in the lava crust are the fire-spears of Pele's household.
The crackle of the fire-red lava is Pele's coarse voice. It is called "pu." When Hawaiians first heard the sound of a gun being fired, they likened the explosion to Pele's voice and called it "pu."
NEXT: Fight with snow maiden
Friday, March 29, 2013
► The True Nature of Pele
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Monday, November 30, 1959 - Clarice B. Taylor's "Tales about Hawaii"
"Pele must be mad."
That is the common remark you hear as soon as a volcanic eruption is announced.
The remark shows how little modern day people know about Pele. Moderns only know her by her destructive force.
As a matter of fact the old Hawaiians think of Pele as "The Earth-Warming Woman". Without the warmth which she gives earth, there would be no green vegetation.
Without Pele, there would be no new earth to enrich the world.
BIRTH PLANS
Before Pele floods the earth with her lava flows, she goes through the pains of childbirth just as a woman does.
The Hawaiian says, "there must be destruction, before there can be new life." Just so Pele burns the old forests, lays waste the fertile lands and covers them with new.
Of course Pele does no create the miracle of new-earth alone. She needs the help of the Lono family who bring rain to the new lava and she needs the help of the Kane family whose members strike the new lava with thunder and lightening. Then she needs the help of the Ku family members who spread green trees and vegetation on her flows.
AIDS SICK
The Pele family are all revered by old Hawaiians for their health restoring abilities. A kahuna (physician) who could not heal a sick person could always pray to Pele and ask her aid. A Kahuna did not pray directly to Pele. He prayed to one of the Hiiaka sisters or one of Pele's brothers and asked for aid.
Pele in turn, would give assistance to the faithful by asking the aid of one of the great gods in heaven.
GOLDEN RULE
Pele was a stern upholder of the Golden Rule law of the Hawaiians. The best known stories of Pele are those which tell of her punishment of those who did not follow this rule.
Pele would appear as an old haggard woman before the house of the proud, rich family. Invariably she would ask for food and be refused.
According to one story, she pointed to a breadfruit tree and asked for one fruit. She was refused. The next day all the fruit fell from the tree.
At the home of an old couple, she asked for food and was invited to come in and share their sweet potatoes.
The old couple were rewarded. When Pele sent a flow toward their home, the flow divided and went around their sweet potato patch and home.
NEXT: More about Pele's Travels
"Pele must be mad."
That is the common remark you hear as soon as a volcanic eruption is announced.
The remark shows how little modern day people know about Pele. Moderns only know her by her destructive force.
As a matter of fact the old Hawaiians think of Pele as "The Earth-Warming Woman". Without the warmth which she gives earth, there would be no green vegetation.
Without Pele, there would be no new earth to enrich the world.
BIRTH PLANS
Before Pele floods the earth with her lava flows, she goes through the pains of childbirth just as a woman does.
The Hawaiian says, "there must be destruction, before there can be new life." Just so Pele burns the old forests, lays waste the fertile lands and covers them with new.
Of course Pele does no create the miracle of new-earth alone. She needs the help of the Lono family who bring rain to the new lava and she needs the help of the Kane family whose members strike the new lava with thunder and lightening. Then she needs the help of the Ku family members who spread green trees and vegetation on her flows.
AIDS SICK
The Pele family are all revered by old Hawaiians for their health restoring abilities. A kahuna (physician) who could not heal a sick person could always pray to Pele and ask her aid. A Kahuna did not pray directly to Pele. He prayed to one of the Hiiaka sisters or one of Pele's brothers and asked for aid.
Pele in turn, would give assistance to the faithful by asking the aid of one of the great gods in heaven.
GOLDEN RULE
Pele was a stern upholder of the Golden Rule law of the Hawaiians. The best known stories of Pele are those which tell of her punishment of those who did not follow this rule.
Pele would appear as an old haggard woman before the house of the proud, rich family. Invariably she would ask for food and be refused.
According to one story, she pointed to a breadfruit tree and asked for one fruit. She was refused. The next day all the fruit fell from the tree.
At the home of an old couple, she asked for food and was invited to come in and share their sweet potatoes.
The old couple were rewarded. When Pele sent a flow toward their home, the flow divided and went around their sweet potato patch and home.
NEXT: More about Pele's Travels
Thursday, March 28, 2013
► A Canoe for Pele
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Friday, November 27, 1959 - Clarice B. Taylor's "Tales about Hawaii"
Father Ku kept his word and provided Pele with a large sea-going double canoe. It was large enough for the big family and contained enough food to last for months.
The one who prepared the canoe was Ka-moho-alii, King of the Sharks, and Pele's eldest brother. Kamohoalii put his relatives in charge of the canoe.They were Kane - the Whirlwind, Ke-aumiki (The Strong Current) and Keauka (The Moving Seas).
Pele first visited Bora Bora in the Society Islands and then spent a lot of time visiting mysterious ancestral Islands and finally came to Niihau.
It is because she came to the Hawaiian Islands that you read that Pele brought the ocean to Hawaii.
The real truth is that Namaka kept up her quarrel with Pele and followed where ever she went. It was in reality Namaka who brought the ocean to Hawaii. Since Namaka was Queen of the Seas, the ocean naturally followed where she traveled.
Pele kept in the canoe her magic digging tool, Pa-oa. During her travels, Pele used Pa-oa to dig holes in the sandy beaches. She hoped to dig a home for herself and family. But, Pele was always disappointed. Every time she dug a hole, she would find Namaka filling the hole with water and putting out Pele's fires.
Pele was well received and lavishly entertained on the Island of Niihau - but she found the Island small and quickly passed over to Kauai.
It was on this Island in Haena she met the first of her famous lovers. He was a mortal named Lohiau. Pele transformed herself into a maiden and was married to Lohiau. However, she was not satisfied with her mortal life because she could not dig a fire-hole at Haena to make a home.
Legends from Kauai about Pele differ from the popular legends coming from the Big Island.
Kauai people say that Pele was the daughter of Kanehoalani and Hina. Others say Kane-hao-lani was her brother and Hina was the goddess who created the great tidal wave on which Pele arrived from her south Sea home.
It really doesn't matter, because those names mean nothing today. The older legends which gave Ku as Pele's father follow the pattern which makes the great god Ku progenitor of mortals.
The Kauai folks make matters more confusing by saying that Pele spent much time searching the Islands of the South sea for her stolen husband.
Our story of Pele is a condensation of the Pele stories run in Hoku-o-ka-(P)pikapika (Star of the Pacific) in 1861 and Ke Kuokoa in 1864 and 1865.
For personal interest, I've highlighted a part of the text. As a previous long time resident of Kauai, I've learned the same version of this mo'olelo from Kauai kupuna.
Father Ku kept his word and provided Pele with a large sea-going double canoe. It was large enough for the big family and contained enough food to last for months.
The one who prepared the canoe was Ka-moho-alii, King of the Sharks, and Pele's eldest brother. Kamohoalii put his relatives in charge of the canoe.They were Kane - the Whirlwind, Ke-aumiki (The Strong Current) and Keauka (The Moving Seas).
Pele first visited Bora Bora in the Society Islands and then spent a lot of time visiting mysterious ancestral Islands and finally came to Niihau.
It is because she came to the Hawaiian Islands that you read that Pele brought the ocean to Hawaii.
The real truth is that Namaka kept up her quarrel with Pele and followed where ever she went. It was in reality Namaka who brought the ocean to Hawaii. Since Namaka was Queen of the Seas, the ocean naturally followed where she traveled.
Pele kept in the canoe her magic digging tool, Pa-oa. During her travels, Pele used Pa-oa to dig holes in the sandy beaches. She hoped to dig a home for herself and family. But, Pele was always disappointed. Every time she dug a hole, she would find Namaka filling the hole with water and putting out Pele's fires.
Pele was well received and lavishly entertained on the Island of Niihau - but she found the Island small and quickly passed over to Kauai.
It was on this Island in Haena she met the first of her famous lovers. He was a mortal named Lohiau. Pele transformed herself into a maiden and was married to Lohiau. However, she was not satisfied with her mortal life because she could not dig a fire-hole at Haena to make a home.
Legends from Kauai about Pele differ from the popular legends coming from the Big Island.
Kauai people say that Pele was the daughter of Kanehoalani and Hina. Others say Kane-hao-lani was her brother and Hina was the goddess who created the great tidal wave on which Pele arrived from her south Sea home.
It really doesn't matter, because those names mean nothing today. The older legends which gave Ku as Pele's father follow the pattern which makes the great god Ku progenitor of mortals.
The Kauai folks make matters more confusing by saying that Pele spent much time searching the Islands of the South sea for her stolen husband.
Our story of Pele is a condensation of the Pele stories run in Hoku-o-ka-(P)pikapika (Star of the Pacific) in 1861 and Ke Kuokoa in 1864 and 1865.
For personal interest, I've highlighted a part of the text. As a previous long time resident of Kauai, I've learned the same version of this mo'olelo from Kauai kupuna.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
► Pele's Family Gods
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Thursday, November 26, 1959 - Clarice B. Taylor's "Tales about Hawaii"
If you are fortunate, you may see Pele and her Hiiaka sisters when visiting Kilauea Iki. There are seven Hiiaka sisters, all younger than Pele and devoted to her as good alii sisters should be.
Each Hiiaka has a name that distinguishes her from the others. The name indicates her personality.
The first is Hiiaka-Kapu-Ena-Ena (Hiiaka of theburning tabu) If she is called Hiiaka-Pu-Ena-Ena, the name means "Hiiaka of the burning hills."
The second sister is Hiiaka-Wawahi-lani (Hiiaka breaking the heavens for the heavey rain to fall.)
The third is Hiiakanoholani (Hiiaka-dwelling in the skies).
The fourth is Hiiaka-makole-wawahi-waa (Hiiaka the fire-eyed canoe breaker).
The fifth: Hiiaka-kaa-lawa-maka (Hiiaka with the quick glancing eyes).
The sixth: Hiiaka-ka-lei-ia (Hiiaka encircled by garlands of smoke clouds).
The seventh and youngest Hiiaka is the best known of the sisters. She is Hiiaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele (Hiiaka in-the-bosom-of-Pele).
These girls were born long, long ago to Haumea, the goddess known as Earth's pali. Their father was the great god Ku. They lived far, far away in the South Seas on a beautiful Island.
The Hiiakas had two elder sisters, Namaka-o-ka-hai, Queen of the Ocean, and Pele, the fire goddess.
These two sisters were always quarreling. Their quarrels were the eternal battle between fire and water.
Pele aggravated Namaka by building fires and littering the nice sandy beaches of their Island home.
Pele was angered when Namaka swept away the fires she had built.
The row between Namaka and Pele became intense when Namaka caught Pele flirting with her husband.
INTENSE
The row was so intense that Pele decided she would have to leave home.
So, Pele called in her brothers and sisters and announced she was seized with wanderlust and she asked her father for a sea-going canoe which would carry her and her brothers and sisters to foreign lands.
"What will you do with your little egg sister?" asked Ku.
Pele took the egg, wrapped it in her skirt to keep it warm, and said the egg would always remain near. This is how the youngest of the Hiiakas received her name Hiiaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele (Hiiaka-in-the-bossm-of-Pele.)
NEXT: Pele and her canoe
If you are fortunate, you may see Pele and her Hiiaka sisters when visiting Kilauea Iki. There are seven Hiiaka sisters, all younger than Pele and devoted to her as good alii sisters should be.
Each Hiiaka has a name that distinguishes her from the others. The name indicates her personality.
The first is Hiiaka-Kapu-Ena-Ena (Hiiaka of theburning tabu) If she is called Hiiaka-Pu-Ena-Ena, the name means "Hiiaka of the burning hills."
The second sister is Hiiaka-Wawahi-lani (Hiiaka breaking the heavens for the heavey rain to fall.)
The third is Hiiakanoholani (Hiiaka-dwelling in the skies).
The fourth is Hiiaka-makole-wawahi-waa (Hiiaka the fire-eyed canoe breaker).
The fifth: Hiiaka-kaa-lawa-maka (Hiiaka with the quick glancing eyes).
The sixth: Hiiaka-ka-lei-ia (Hiiaka encircled by garlands of smoke clouds).
The seventh and youngest Hiiaka is the best known of the sisters. She is Hiiaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele (Hiiaka in-the-bosom-of-Pele).
These girls were born long, long ago to Haumea, the goddess known as Earth's pali. Their father was the great god Ku. They lived far, far away in the South Seas on a beautiful Island.
The Hiiakas had two elder sisters, Namaka-o-ka-hai, Queen of the Ocean, and Pele, the fire goddess.
These two sisters were always quarreling. Their quarrels were the eternal battle between fire and water.
Pele aggravated Namaka by building fires and littering the nice sandy beaches of their Island home.
Pele was angered when Namaka swept away the fires she had built.
The row between Namaka and Pele became intense when Namaka caught Pele flirting with her husband.
INTENSE
The row was so intense that Pele decided she would have to leave home.
So, Pele called in her brothers and sisters and announced she was seized with wanderlust and she asked her father for a sea-going canoe which would carry her and her brothers and sisters to foreign lands.
"What will you do with your little egg sister?" asked Ku.
Pele took the egg, wrapped it in her skirt to keep it warm, and said the egg would always remain near. This is how the youngest of the Hiiakas received her name Hiiaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele (Hiiaka-in-the-bossm-of-Pele.)
NEXT: Pele and her canoe
Monday, March 25, 2013
► The Sacred Name 'Pele'
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Wednesday, November 25, 1959 - Clarice B. Taylor's "Tales about Hawaii"
Now that Pele has returned to her Kilauea home and is playfully kicking up her heels, it is time to tell you of her people, her migration to Hawaii and her love affairs.
My Hawaiian friend says Pele is in a "playful mood" because she has sent her lava flow into Kilauea Iki pit and has not rampaged about the Ka-u or Puna districts. So far she has shown no anger.
Pele's actions depend on the treatment she receives from mortals, particularly the people of the Ka-u district. The Ka-u people consider themselves the children of Pele and she is their special goddess.
Pele is the only one of the ancient Hawaiian gods known to everyone in Hawaii-nei today.
REVERENCE
Pele demands reverence. In olden days, no Hawaiian would dare speak of her as "Pele." Today almost everybody calls her Pele. The old folks would speak quietly and reverently about "Na Wahine."
The name Pele was used in prayers and chants by priests and hula dancers. Ceremony surrounded the use of her name and even in the chants she was spoken of as "Pele-Honua-Mea," Pele, "the woman of the sacred earth."
In chants she was spoken of as "Ku ula o ke-ahi a name which means "the redness of the fire."
In ordinary conversation she was Na Wahine, "The wahine." The plural Na was used to include her sisters, the Hiiakas.
Or, she was called "the woman of the pit," "The woman in scarlet" or "Na wahinealii o Kalua," "The alii woman of the pit."
SACRED NAME
"Ka-ula-o-Keahi," the redness of the fire, is her most sacred name and is to be used only in prayers...so the modern should avoid the name unless the user is one of her descendants.
No one among the old Hawaiians ever named a child for Pele unless the name was specifically given the child in a dream by the family aumakua (saint).
Unless a child belonged to a Pele family and had a right to the name, a person named Pele would be sure to have a bad personality. The child would be tempestuous, wilful and a terrible flirt.
Most Hawaiians love an even-tempered child who is obedient and does not cause trouble. A nice baby can easily get a bad start in life by being named Pele.
Believe it or not, Pele and her sisters sometime some to visit elderly Hawaiians. In a case like that, the one who has received a call speak of them as "Those people."
The one visited will say " Those people were here today."
There is a short, narrow street on Punchbowl named in irreverence. Only a haole who doesn't know any better would name a street Pele.
NEXT: Pele's Family
Now that Pele has returned to her Kilauea home and is playfully kicking up her heels, it is time to tell you of her people, her migration to Hawaii and her love affairs.
My Hawaiian friend says Pele is in a "playful mood" because she has sent her lava flow into Kilauea Iki pit and has not rampaged about the Ka-u or Puna districts. So far she has shown no anger.
Pele's actions depend on the treatment she receives from mortals, particularly the people of the Ka-u district. The Ka-u people consider themselves the children of Pele and she is their special goddess.
Pele is the only one of the ancient Hawaiian gods known to everyone in Hawaii-nei today.
REVERENCE
Pele demands reverence. In olden days, no Hawaiian would dare speak of her as "Pele." Today almost everybody calls her Pele. The old folks would speak quietly and reverently about "Na Wahine."
The name Pele was used in prayers and chants by priests and hula dancers. Ceremony surrounded the use of her name and even in the chants she was spoken of as "Pele-Honua-Mea," Pele, "the woman of the sacred earth."
In chants she was spoken of as "Ku ula o ke-ahi a name which means "the redness of the fire."
In ordinary conversation she was Na Wahine, "The wahine." The plural Na was used to include her sisters, the Hiiakas.
Or, she was called "the woman of the pit," "The woman in scarlet" or "Na wahinealii o Kalua," "The alii woman of the pit."
SACRED NAME
"Ka-ula-o-Keahi," the redness of the fire, is her most sacred name and is to be used only in prayers...so the modern should avoid the name unless the user is one of her descendants.
No one among the old Hawaiians ever named a child for Pele unless the name was specifically given the child in a dream by the family aumakua (saint).
Unless a child belonged to a Pele family and had a right to the name, a person named Pele would be sure to have a bad personality. The child would be tempestuous, wilful and a terrible flirt.
Most Hawaiians love an even-tempered child who is obedient and does not cause trouble. A nice baby can easily get a bad start in life by being named Pele.
Believe it or not, Pele and her sisters sometime some to visit elderly Hawaiians. In a case like that, the one who has received a call speak of them as "Those people."
The one visited will say " Those people were here today."
There is a short, narrow street on Punchbowl named in irreverence. Only a haole who doesn't know any better would name a street Pele.
NEXT: Pele's Family
Thursday, March 21, 2013
► The Kahuna and His Polynesian Gods
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Wednesday,June 10, 1959 - Clarice B. Taylor's "Tales about Hawaii"
Haole "seekers of the truth" who came to Daddy (David K.) Bray for enlightenment are often surprised to learn that the old Hawaiians had religious differences just as we have today.
Each of the four great gods of Hawaii had their "school" of priests and followers. The schools were like the division among our Catholic, Episcopalean, Unitarian and Congregationalists.
In addition there were many independent Kahunas who set up their own schools, much like today's cultists.
KANE CREATOR
All ancient schools acknowledged Kane as the creator and giver of life. They acknowledged Ku-nui-akea as the architect and builder, the god who was the builder and destroyer at the same time.
Lono-nui-akea, was the god of fertility - he who dwelt in the rain clouds and was a messenger between earth and Kane.
Kanaloa was the god of the ocean and sustainer of life; important because "it is from the ocean that come life."
These four were the high gods. Dwelling on earth were thousands of other gods of whom, Pele, the volcano, and Haumea, the earth goddess, were the more important.
During the nineteenth century, after the coming of Christianity, there arose a group among the Hawaiians who claimed that their ancestors had worshipped a supreme god named Io. They produced an ancient prayer to prove their contention.
Daddy Bray is one of those who believes in Io.
In accepting the Bible, practically all nineteenth century Hawaiians thought of Kane as "god the father", Ku as the "Holy Ghost" and Lono as "Christ".
Kanaloa was consigned to hell by these people.
Because of this identification of the old gods with the Trinity in the Bible, you often hear Hawaiians of today say "We had the truth long before the white man brought us the Bible."
In addition to all these gods, the Hawaiians had personal saints whom they called aumakua. The aumakua were definitely ancestors who regularly visited their earth children to give them assistance.
The aumakua of the day were those who had lived on earth and helped with early matters. The aumakua of the night was a "Heavenly force."
NEXT: Reincarnation
Haole "seekers of the truth" who came to Daddy (David K.) Bray for enlightenment are often surprised to learn that the old Hawaiians had religious differences just as we have today.
Each of the four great gods of Hawaii had their "school" of priests and followers. The schools were like the division among our Catholic, Episcopalean, Unitarian and Congregationalists.
In addition there were many independent Kahunas who set up their own schools, much like today's cultists.
KANE CREATOR
All ancient schools acknowledged Kane as the creator and giver of life. They acknowledged Ku-nui-akea as the architect and builder, the god who was the builder and destroyer at the same time.
Lono-nui-akea, was the god of fertility - he who dwelt in the rain clouds and was a messenger between earth and Kane.
Kanaloa was the god of the ocean and sustainer of life; important because "it is from the ocean that come life."
These four were the high gods. Dwelling on earth were thousands of other gods of whom, Pele, the volcano, and Haumea, the earth goddess, were the more important.
During the nineteenth century, after the coming of Christianity, there arose a group among the Hawaiians who claimed that their ancestors had worshipped a supreme god named Io. They produced an ancient prayer to prove their contention.
Daddy Bray is one of those who believes in Io.
In accepting the Bible, practically all nineteenth century Hawaiians thought of Kane as "god the father", Ku as the "Holy Ghost" and Lono as "Christ".
Kanaloa was consigned to hell by these people.
Because of this identification of the old gods with the Trinity in the Bible, you often hear Hawaiians of today say "We had the truth long before the white man brought us the Bible."
In addition to all these gods, the Hawaiians had personal saints whom they called aumakua. The aumakua were definitely ancestors who regularly visited their earth children to give them assistance.
The aumakua of the day were those who had lived on earth and helped with early matters. The aumakua of the night was a "Heavenly force."
NEXT: Reincarnation
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