KUMULIPO

KUMULIPO• Mele ko`ihonua or

genealogical chant showing the mo`okū`auhau (genealogy) of the kanaka maoli

• Over 2000 lines long

• Echoes the complexities and details of the Hawaiian thought process and perspective

KUMULIPO

• Divides ancient Hawaiian history into 16 time periods or wā

• Divided into 2 sections– Ka pō: The darkness, the age of spirits (1st 8 time

periods)

– Ua ao: Arrival of light and the gods (last 8 time periods)

WĀ `AKAHI• Life is formed from darkness

• The first living organism is the coral polyp

• From this coral polyp is born sea urchins, sea creatures and limu

• Sea life is paired with its forest companion on land

WĀ `ALUA

• 73 types of fish are born in this wā – ie: naiʻa, manō, moano

• Once again, sea life is paired with its counterpart on land – ie: weke and wauke

WĀ `AKOLU

• 52 flying creatures are born– ie: pueo, pulelehua, noio

• These creatures are paired with a land or sea creature– ie: pe`elua & pulelehua

WĀ `AHĀ

• Crawling creatures are born– ie: honu, mo`o, `ula

• Each crawling creature has a relation to a crawling land plant– ie: maile

WĀ `ALIMA

• Haumea or Papahānaumoku (female earth) becomes fertile and gives birth to kalo

WĀ `AONO

• Born are the nibblers of the earth– `iole

– `uku

WĀ `AHIKU

• Born are the land mammals– `īlio

– `ōpe`ape`a

WĀ `AWALU

• Transition period that begins in the pō (darkness) and ends in the ao (daylight)

WĀ `AIWA – WĀ `UMIKŪMAMĀONO

• After this transition period, we see the genealogy of the gods and the birth of man

• Man is born in the last wā (16th)

KUMULIPO• The lineage of Papahānaumoku (also known as

Papa or Haumea) and Wākea are mentioned in the Kumulipo, the epic chant of creation according to the Hawaiian people.

• According to the Kumulipo, Papahānaumoku (Earth Mother) was born in darkness and Wākea (Sky Father) was created in the light. Their union, symbolizing male light’s penetration into female’s darkness, brought forth the birth of the Hawaiian islands and the Hawaiian people.

PAPA• Dr. Taupōuri Tangarō defines

Papa as “the earth, the crust upon which floats the oceans, her ambiotic fluid; the crust that feeds the growth of coral, the placenta of ocean life. Whereas Wākea anchors us to the universe, Papahānaumoku anchors us to a geography, our sacred land base.”

WĀKEA Tangarō defines Wākea as “the

male parent of Premordial origins, this informs us that Hawaiʻi’s traditional consciousness is not only land-based, but celestial, not only anchored in living land but in the sky, as well.”

The Hawaiian Dictionary defines Wākea as the mythical ancestor of all Hawaiians.

MELE KUMU HONUA

• According to Mele Kumu Honua, Papahānaumoku & Wākea came together and brought forth the birth of the Hawaiian islands and the Hawaiian people

MELE KUMU HONUA

• Papa and Wākea had a daughter named Hoʻohōkūkalani (the heavenly one who made the stars).

• Wākea and Hoʻohōkūkalani together conceived a child. Their union resulted in two births.

MELE KUMU HONUA

‘O Wākea noho iā Papahānaumoku Hānau ‘o Hawai’i, he mokuHānau ‘o

Maui, he mokuHoʻi hou ‘o Wākea noho iā

Hoʻohōkūkalani Hānau ‘o Moloka’i, he mokuHanau

‘o Lānaʻi, ka ʻula, he mokuLili ʻōpū punalua ‘o Papa iā HoʻohōkūlaniHoʻi hou ‘o Papa

noho iā WākeaHanau ‘o Oʻahu, he mokuHanau ‘o

Kauaʻi, he mokuHanau ‘o Niʻihau, he mokuHe ‘ula aʻo

Kahoʻolawe

Wākea lived with Papa, Born was Hawai’i, an islandBorn was Maui, an islandWākea made a new departureAnd lived with Ho’ohōkūkalaniBorn was Moloka’i, an islandBorn was Lana’i, an islandThe womb of Papa became jealous at Ho’ohōkūkalaniPapa returned and lived with WākeaBorn was O’ahu, an islandBorn was Kaua’i, an islandBorn was Ni’ihau, an islandA red rock was Kaho’olawe

Noho hou ‘o Wākea iā Hoʻohōkūkalani

A ua hānau mai kā Wākea keiki mua

He keiki ‘aluʻalu, ‘O Hāloanaka ka inoa

A make ua keiki ‘aluʻalu lā

Kanu ‘ia iho ma waho o ke kala o ka hale

Ulu mai ua keiki lā kalo nō

Hānau mai he keiki hou

Kapa lākou i kona inoa ma ka hā o ua kalo lā ‘o Hāloa

Nānā mai ko ke ao nei a pau, ʻo Hāloa hoʻi!

Wākea lived again with Hoʻohōkūkalani

Born to them was a first childHe was stillborn, Hāloanaka

was his nameHe was placed in the earth

outside of the houseUp sprouted the KaloBorn was another childThey called him Haloa after

the his elder brotherLook at all of us, Hāloa lives!

HĀLOA• The first birth was an unformed

fetus (keiki ʻaluʻalu), who was born prematurely. He was named Hāloanakalaukapalili, meaning the quivering long stalk.

• Hāloanakalaukapalili was buried at the eastern corner of the house and from his burial grew the first kalo (taro) plant.

HĀLOA• The second birth was a child

named Hāloa in honor of his elder brother. Hāloa was born strong and healthy and is believed to be the first kanaka maoli, or Hawaiian man.

• Hāloa means long breath

KULEANA• Thus,

Haloanakalaukapalili, the kalo, is considered to be the older sibling and the kanaka Hawai`i (Hawaiian people) the younger sibling.

KALO

• The kalo (taro) plant plays a vital part in the genealogy of the Hawaiian people as their most important crop and main sustenance.

`OHANA

• It is also important to note that the term ʻohana (family) comes from the kalo plant itself. The corm of the kalo is called the ʻohā.

SHOWING RESPECT• In Hawaiian tradition, it

is considered disrespectful to fight in front of an elder. One should not raise the voice, speak angrily or make rude comments or gestures.

ʻŌLELO NOʻEAU

He aliʻi nō ka ʻāina,

he kauā nō ke kanakaThe land is the chief, man is the servant