Library - Theology - Kahuna

Kahuna is Hawaii's ancient polytheistic religion that originated in ancient Hawaiian culture between 500 CE and 1,100 CE by Pa'ao (who brought the religion's Polynesian fundamentals from Samoa); he was instrumental in bringing the High Chief Pili-kaaiea (also from Samoa) to rule the island of Hawaii (some descendents of Pili-kaaiea have remained among the highest ranked families in Samoa into the 21st Century CE).

Deities:		Supernatural agents:		Beliefs:		Traditions:
Prominent deities Kū Kāne Lono Kanaloa Ke kanahā (forty additioanl male deities derived from Kāne) Ka lau (four hundred additional goddesses and gods) Ke kini akua (at least four thousand additional goddesses and gods)		Na 'unihipili (spirits) Na 'aumākau (guardians)		Hawaiian islands are all children of Papa, Wākea, and Ho'ohokukalani Kumulipo (creation myth) Women shouldn't eat certain red foods, pork, banana, or coconut because they symbolize the male sex		Death penalty for violating village-wide mandates of long periods of absolute silence which also applied to babies and animals Kumulipo chant that links the Hawaiian Royal ali'l to the deities Men and women prohibited from eating meals together, and their food has to be cooked in seperate ovens Overfishing restrictions Prayer posture, which also denotes self-respect, includes sitting upright with head high and both eyes open Sacrifice of first born child of Wākea and Ho'ohokukalani by burial, with whatever plants sprouted becoming the first "kalo" (a.k.a., "taro") Those believed to have spiritual power cannot be touched or in close proximity to anyone else Women forced to leave the community while menstruating