WEEK 2 LECTUREWEEK 2 LECTUREHAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGYHAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGY

HWST 104HWST 104

TERMINOLOGYTERMINOLOGY KAKAʻ̒AOAO

Fanciful story or tale; usually fictionFanciful story or tale; usually fiction An embellished moAn embellished moʻ̒oleloolelo

MOMOʻ̒OLELOOLELO Legend Legend Historical in natureHistorical in nature Documentation Documentation

MOʻOKAʻAOMOʻOKAʻAO FolktaleFolktale

MELEMELE Chant/song form of kaChant/song form of kaʻ̒ao or meleao or mele More poetic in natureMore poetic in nature

NĀ NŪPEPA HAWAI`INĀ NŪPEPA HAWAI`IHawaiian NewspapersHawaiian Newspapers

Ka Lama Hawai`i (student Ka Lama Hawai`i (student newspaper) printed on newspaper) printed on February 14, 1834February 14, 1834

Ke Kumu Hawai`i (1Ke Kumu Hawai`i (1stst regularly published )later that regularly published )later that yearyear

Ka Hōkū o ka Pākīpika: 1Ka Hōkū o ka Pākīpika: 1stst newspaper established by a newspaper established by a Native HawaiianNative Hawaiian

HAWAIIAN MYTHS & HAWAIIAN MYTHS & LEGENDSLEGENDS

Distinction between kaDistinction between kaʻ̒ao as fiction and ao as fiction and momoʻ̒olelo as fact would lie in the intention of olelo as fact would lie in the intention of the story. Kathe story. Kaʻ̒ao are composed to tickle the ao are composed to tickle the fancy versus mofancy versus moʻ̒olelo, which are composed to olelo, which are composed to inform the mind as to supposed events.inform the mind as to supposed events.

Hawaiian legends and myths occupy an Hawaiian legends and myths occupy an important place in both the history of the important place in both the history of the islands and in the understanding of Hawaiian islands and in the understanding of Hawaiian culture today. culture today.

4 H’s of Myth

Hua (The Catalyst)

Haʻalele (The Separation)

Huakaʻi (The Journey)

Hoʻi (The Return)

HUA: The Catalyst

Hua: egg, seed or result, effect

The call to adventure. The person, thing or event that launches the entire myth. It is the thing that causes the journey to happen.

HAʻALELE:The Separation

Haʻalele: to leave, abandon, or evacuate The point at which the main character

separates from the community and embarks on the journey

It means leaving the familiar landscape or the environment in which one is comfortable into an unknown realm where the rules and limits are unknown

HUAKAʻI:The Journey

Huaka`i: a journey, a mission, to travel

The main character often undergoes a series of tests, tasks, ordeals or challenges that he/she is required to accomplish as part of the adventure

Experiences and lessons are learned that leads us to our ancient selves

HUAKAʻIHUAKAʻI

Typified by a trail or path If the path is steep, it often alludes to

difficulties The main character may meet up

with a mentor Mentor: people you meet along the

way who assist you such as an old lady/man, talking animals, fairy godmother, relatives, etc.

Everything and everyone in a journey are necessary for growth

HUAKAʻIHUAKAʻI The journey is often times violent and The journey is often times violent and

graphic in image. graphic in image. It is here in the huaka`i that the mo`o It is here in the huaka`i that the mo`o

(water spirits) are killed while (water spirits) are killed while journeying through the forest or the journeying through the forest or the manō (sharks) are slaughtered before manō (sharks) are slaughtered before treading through the ocean, from one treading through the ocean, from one shore to the next. shore to the next.

It is here that the main character is It is here that the main character is introduced to their internal demons and introduced to their internal demons and monsters that are transposed on the monsters that are transposed on the landscape of his/her journey. landscape of his/her journey.

THE CROSSROADTHE CROSSROAD

It is at this point that It is at this point that the main character the main character confronts the final leg confronts the final leg of the ritual…..of the ritual…..

Do I return to society? Do I return to society?

Do I leave society? Do I leave society?

This leads us to……..This leads us to……..

HOʻI:The Return

Hoʻi: a return, to go back, to come back, to leave with the intention of returning back to where you first came

After answering the call to adventure and meeting its trials, the main character must return and integrate back into the community The main character returns to the ordinary world with an

item or awareness that will benefit the society left earlier The main character returns to tell his/her story and to

serve as inspiration for others who have not yet answered their call

DIFFERENT FACETS TO DIFFERENT FACETS TO CONSIDER IN HAWAIIAN CONSIDER IN HAWAIIAN

MYTHS & LEGENDSMYTHS & LEGENDS Historical Elements Historical Elements

Documentation of Place NamesDocumentation of Place Names Names have a lot of mana (spiritual power/force). They are Names have a lot of mana (spiritual power/force). They are

incorporated into myths/legends/mele for a reason. incorporated into myths/legends/mele for a reason. 11stst hula, important events, etc. hula, important events, etc.

Biographical ElementsBiographical Elements Gods, goddesses, deities, etc.Gods, goddesses, deities, etc. Characters of the storyCharacters of the story

The meaning of people’s names often have a lot of mana The meaning of people’s names often have a lot of mana and can add insight into the characterand can add insight into the character

DIFFERENT FACETS TO DIFFERENT FACETS TO CONSIDER IN HAWAIIAN CONSIDER IN HAWAIIAN

MYTHS & LEGENDSMYTHS & LEGENDS

Cultural ElementsCultural Elements Culture of family Culture of family Social protocolSocial protocol Oli (chants) Oli (chants) Social orderSocial order MedicineMedicine Arts and craftsArts and crafts

COMMON MOTIFS IN COMMON MOTIFS IN HAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGYHAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGY

HōHōʻ̒ailonaailona Omens or predictions within a storyOmens or predictions within a story A prophecy of what is to comeA prophecy of what is to come Names of characters or place names often provide Names of characters or place names often provide

insight into the characters’ attributes, personality insight into the characters’ attributes, personality and/or the plot of the story.and/or the plot of the story.

ie: Wailuku is the name of a river in Hilo. Wailuku ie: Wailuku is the name of a river in Hilo. Wailuku literally means “destructive water,” so it gives you an idea literally means “destructive water,” so it gives you an idea of the kind of river it isof the kind of river it is

COMMON MOTIFS IN COMMON MOTIFS IN HAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGYHAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGY

Sole SurvivorSole Survivor The remaining survivor who is left behind to tell the story The remaining survivor who is left behind to tell the story

or report what happened to othersor report what happened to others

Recognition TokenRecognition Token Magical things of power belonging to certain people Magical things of power belonging to certain people Special items given by a chief to a mistressSpecial items given by a chief to a mistress

The items are often given with the instructions that any child born The items are often given with the instructions that any child born of the affair is to present them to the chief to gain recognition that of the affair is to present them to the chief to gain recognition that he is his childhe is his child

Typical items include things that are worn, such as malo, lei, capes, Typical items include things that are worn, such as malo, lei, capes, etc. etc.

COMMON MOTIFS IN COMMON MOTIFS IN HAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGYHAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGY

Birth/Death/Rebirth Mo`okū`auhau, or genealogy, is very important to

the Hawaiian people. Most myths & legends begin with some form of genealogy

In mythology, births may be supernatural Rebirth - To experience another existence such

as the changing from one life form to another Reincarnation (animal, live being) Transformation (stones, cliff heads)

DON’T FORGET………DON’T FORGET………

The images of myth speak directly to a person The images of myth speak directly to a person with a unique message.with a unique message.

What the myth and its symbols mean to one What the myth and its symbols mean to one person, may be different from another person. person, may be different from another person. It may even mean something different to the It may even mean something different to the same person at a different time in their life.same person at a different time in their life.

Myths can always be revisited and something Myths can always be revisited and something new can always be learned from them! new can always be learned from them!