Hawaiian

Hawaiian

Surya Lombela, Nathan Beauchamp, Mika Booth-Hodges

====In the beginning there was only chaos, then the gods Kane, Ku, and Lono emerged from the night and created three heavens to live in. Kane is the god of creation and growth, Ku is the creation god of humans and of war, and Lono is the god of the heavens. The uppermost heaven was for Kane, the middle for Ku, and the lowest for Lono (Beckwith 43, 1970). Then they made the earth to use as a footrest. Kane created the sun, moon, and stars, and placed them between heaven and earth. After that man was formed from earth, using white clay for the head, red clay mixed with saliva for the body (Beckwith 43, 1970). Man was formed in the image of Kane, Ku being the workman, and Lono being the assistant. Kane and Ku breathed into the nostrils, Lono into the mouth, and the man became a living creature. Later, the gods fashioned woman for him, using his right side (Beckwith 43, 1970). Different plants and animals were created at different times. First, sea urchins and seaweed were born (Beckwith, 1951). Second, 73 types of fish were born. Third, 52 types of birds were created. Fourth to be created were bamboo, vines, jellyfish, and reptiles (Beckwith, 1951). Next, taro, a primary Hawaiian crop, was created. Finally, fleas, rats, dogs, and bats were created (Beckwith, 1951). The structure of the universe as the Hawaiians saw it is a system of layers (Morishima). In this hierarchy, the sky is the top, followed by the many heavens (7 or 8 at the end of creation). Below the heavens is the paradise, which is where souls go if they have been judged to have lead a morally sound life (Morishima). Second to last is the earth, where normal souls dwell and live their lives. On the bottom is the underworld, which is where souls go if their lives have not been judged to have met the standards (Morishima). Hawaiians have no concept of time; there are no past or future tenses, only placeholders that allow one to talk about the past in relation to the present (King). This is emphasized culturally by the fact that Hawaiians did not celebrate birthdays or anniversaries. Also, it it emphasized by Hawaiian proverb //Noho ka mana i keia manawa//. This means "power resides in the present moment (King)."====

**References**
Beckwith, Martha. //Hawaiian Mythology//. 1940. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1970. Print. ---. //The Kumulipo//. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1951. Print. King, Serge Kahili. "The History of Huna." //Aloha International//. N.p., Nov. 2010. Web. 7 Nov. 2010. []. Morishima, Emily. "The Cosmology." //Pomona College//. Astronomy Department, Pomona College, n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2010. [].*  Schmitt, Robert C., ed. "Hawaiian Cosmology." //Hawaii History//. N.p., 2010. Web. 7 Nov. 2010. []. *: In order for one to view this page, one must highlight the page. Then the text will become visible.