Mysticism: The Hawaiian Islands

I always hear how special Hawaii is to the world, that it is where the people take care of the land as well as each other, that its aloha spirit. But I never knew what was the reason why, for me, growing up my parents never showed any signs of the aloha spirits that often, usually they would be very distant with people especially with family members. Since they believed that the only reason they are nice to you is to benefit themselves. So I was very shy and quiet to distant myself from my peers at school because I knew that they might just want to benefit themselves only. But that concept change for me when I was accepted to a college camp here on O’ahu. There I meet people outside my community, which was a new experiences for me because

These religious radicals started a domino affect of the Hawaiian religion. The Hawaiians destroyed and burned their feared idols. The people who still held on the old belifes were murdered. This goes to show how a religion can either hold a society together or tear it apart. Henry Obookiah was born in Hawaii. His family was murdered in a war between neighboring islands. He decided to find a new life in America, so he hopped aboard a trading ship and landed in New England. Obookiah stayed with a Christian family and went to a foreign mission school. Obookiah was taught to be a good Christian gentlemen. He told Americans about the religious chaos in Hawaii saying: "Hawaii gods; the wood- they burn. Me go home, put em in a fire, burn ‘em up. They no see, no hear, no anything. We make ‘em. Our god, He make us"(The Hawaiian Islands P. 30). Christian New Englanders were amazed by Obookiah’s enlightenment in America. New England Christians were motivated to spread the faith into Hawaii. The first American settlers were Christian missionaries from New England. The Missionaries came to the Hawaiian shores aboard the Thaddeus on March 31, 1819. The Americans were treated very well by the natives. They were eager to learn from the missionaries. Without the strict supervision of their former gods and superstitions, Hawaiians were celebrating new freedom. They drank, they partied,

Hawaii is a beautiful island and it didn’t take long for people to realize it could be a lucrative business venture. Hawaii’s tourism began, as “bourgeois desires for contact with the rejuvenating "primitive"” became something that interested

Hula: Hawaii is known for hula dancing and local halaus (hula schools) in Maui often have demonstrations.

Cook and Captain Clerke. They went to the shore of Kealakekua Bay, where they were

The Kamilaroi nation’s kinship is based a lot around totems, that link between the spiritual world, creation and the living world (“A Nations Identity Totems”, n.d; para 1). Totems are a system that looks at the community, how people work as a team, and the value of individual skill. (Totems, 2016). In a way totems provide people with a sense of belonging in relationships between a person and group. In Kamilaroi, totems allow individuals to understand their connection to the scared land. (“A nations Identity Totems, n.d; para 2)

The priests lived within the heiau, temples made of lava rock. Priests of various gods and goddesses were the only ones allowed in to the kapu or inner court. A Hawaiian priest had the power of declaring kapu, forbidden acts or land. Hawaiian priests also had the power of choosing victims for human sacrifices. The priests of the gods and goddesses passed down prayers and beliefs through an oral tradition. Often each priest was responsible for flawlessly reciting a certain part of a ceremony.

The flower leis are especially the most alluring things about the Hawaiian culture. Flower leis are one of Hawaiian culture's most recognizable customs. In Hawaiian culture the lei should be offered graciously with a kiss and removed in private. It is often considered rude if you remove it in front of the person who gave it to you. The Hawaiian language adds to the one of the interesting things in this culture. It is comprised of five vowels and eight consonants, this is the shortest alphabet in the world. Lastly, the hula. It is comprised of swaying the hips, graceful hands, and colorful costumes. It has two major forms the ancient, and the

Spiritualism is a form of worship that believes in both a world of matter and material things, such as people, animals, etc., and a world of spirits or metaphysical beings and happenings. The religion of Hawaii was partially spiritualism and also polytheistic. Polytheism is the belief in many gods. (Imagine) Their gods ruled over the natural occurrences of the world such as the seas, volcanoes, earth, and sky. (Got Religion) One major volcano that was particularly precious to them was Mauna Kea. Mauna Kea was believed to be the place where the sky god met the god of earth; also it was where the other deities met. Basically, Mauna Kea was the Hawaiian Mount Olympus. James "Kimo" Kealii Pihana, a Mauna Kea Ranger mentions that Hawaiians go

When people plan to attend Hawaii they think of beautiful beaches, great exotic food, and the smell of wonderful flowers never before smelt. That is exactly what they get, from turquoise blue water to skyscraping palm trees Hawaii has so many exotic things to see. Also all the great smells of Hawaii from the wild fruit to the roasted pig on the beach Hawaii definitely brings to mind one thing happiness. In Hawaii there are many things that bring happiness to mind such as the extravagant smells, not to mention the beautiful sights, and most of all the spectacular taste in the exquisite food they have in Hawaii.

When it comes to Hawaii, Hawaii is a place where many people wish of visiting and a place where many dream of living. This is because of our beautiful scenery, its

How did the Polynesians find their way to Hawaii, over two thousand miles from any other land? Was it over population at home, or political turmoil? Whatever reason for leaving these people used amazing knowledge and skill of the ocean and of the sky to navigate them to this new land. They faced the unknown and braved into the wide-open ocean for long periods of time. The real focus in this paper is on the navigation techniques that they used in these voyages throughout the Pacific.

Hawaiian is unique among the fifty states, especially in regards to its native music form, which is still preformed, and captivates audiences even today. Hawaiian chanting, music, and dance are not only key parts of life on the island, but have also become cultural icons as well as profound symbols of nature and religion in Hawaii. Hawaii has a rich history, beginning with the early settlers from Polynesia who brought their traditions and religions to Hawaii. Over the years, the inhabitants took those traditions and adapted them to their new home, creating the definitive culture that, even with Western influences, still is a captivating force within the society.

Hawaii, also known as the “Aloha State” is located North of the Pacific Ocean and is known for its beautiful views, lush environment, and most of all, for its traditional dance, the Hula dance. The misconception that I have, along with many other people, is that this dance mainly involves moving your arms and hips from side to side in a peaceful manner. To me, hula dancing is being performed during a luau with instrumental calming music and the dancers are swaying to the beat. In other forms, it can also be very fast paced with the dancers moving their hips in a very quick motion. When I think of Hula dancers in Hawaii I envision that the people performing the dance are happy because it is a celebration of their culture and history. People often forget the importance of hula dancing because tourism and popular culture, therefore it is not appreciated in the form that it should be. Thesis: This essay will look at the cultural importance of the hula dance by evaluating all of its history, variety, and presentation forms.

Maori religion is largely based on the ancient legend of Rangi and Papa. The religion promotes a deep connection and respect for nature. It is their belief that all life possesses mauri (life force), wairau (spirit), and mana (power, influence, and charisma).3 This universal life force is traditionally celebrated, passed down, and remembered