Before Christianity came to Hawaii’s shores in the early 1800s, native Hawaiians prayed to scores of gods that they believed guided their daily lives. Even today, many of these gods are revered and respected, as they have been important parts of the Hawaiian culture since ancient times.
Tiki carvings represented and honored some of the many gods and goddesses acknowledged by ancient Hawaiians, who believed every part of their existence was guided by the deities.
Myths and legendary tales of the gods and their exploits have been passed down for generations in many Hawaiian households, through chants and stories that often explained how the gods and goddesses were said to create and/or control everything from humans to lava flows to ocean creatures to the Hawaiian Islands themselves. The gods were often honored by carved statues called tikis that represented their images and referenced their powers (mana) over their realms.
Although some sources say as many as 4,000 gods and goddesses have been named through the thousands of years of Hawaiian history, there remain four, major gods (akua)—Kane, Kanaloa, Ku, and Lono. Kane was considered the most powerful and said to be the father of all living creatures. Next, is the war god Ku, who, in ancient times, was honored with human sacrifices. Kanaloa is the god of the underworld, ruler of the ocean, and teacher of magic, who was close in power and companionship to Kane. Finally, Lono, who controlled agriculture, was also associated with fertility, rain, music, and peace.
Some of the lesser, but important, deities were: Pele, goddess of the volcanoes, fire, lightning and wind; Hina, goddess of the moon; Laka, goddess of the hula; Papa, goddess of fertility and Earth mother; and Poliahu, one of four snow goddesses and rival of Pele.
Myths and legends of gods and goddesses are prevalent in ancient Hawaiian history and tales of their exploits and powers are still told in chants and dance.
The fascinating history of the Hawaiian people is filled with stories of the gods, who were believed to influence every aspect of their lives. Hundreds of temples or heiaus were built over the centuries to honor the gods and to serve as places to pray and conduct rituals to please the deities. The temples often were designated for certain purposes overseen by specific gods. They were built to treat the sick, offer first fruits of harvest, start or stop rain, increase births, ensure health, achieve success in far off sea voyages, obtain peace or succeed in war, and much more.
Hawaii is a vacation paradise and a cultural treasure chest. To begin your journey of discovery, go to www.hawaiihotels.com.