HO`OMANA:Native Spirituality

MANAMana• nvs. Supernatural or divine power, mana, miraculous

power; a powerful nation, authority; to give mana to, to make powerful; to have mana, power, authority; authorization, privilege; miraculous, divinely powerful, spiritual; possessed of mana, power.

Ho`omana• To place in authority, empower, authorize

• To worship; religion, sect.

AKUA

• God, goddess, supernatural spirit.

• Occasionally used to mean supernatural quality or even a human who has supernatural powers.

• Children of Kamehameha by Keopuolani were sometimes referred to as akua because of their high rank.

AKUA

• 4 “major” gods– Kāne: God of creation

– Kū: God of war

– Lono: God of peace, agriculture, fertility

– Kanaloa: God of ocean

OTHER AKUA

• Laka – Goddess of hula

• Pele – Volcano goddess

• Kapo – Goddess of sorcery

• Maʻiola – God of healing

• Laʻamaomao – Goddess of winds

• Hina – Goddess of the moon

• Occupational gods– Kūhuluhulumanu (god worshipped by bird catchers

`AUMĀKUA• 1. nvt. Family or personal gods, deified

ancestors who might assume the shape of sharks (all islands except Kauaʻi), owls (as at Mānoa, O'ahu and Kaʻū and Puna, Hawaiʻi), hawks (Hawaiʻi), ʻelepaio, ʻiwi, mudhens, octopuses, eels, mice, rats, dogs, caterpillars, rocks, cowries, clouds, or plants. A symbiotic relationship existed; mortals did not harm or eat ʻaumākua (they fed sharks), and ʻaumākua warned and reprimanded mortals in dreams, visions, and calls. (Beckwith, 1970, pp. 124–43, 559; Nānā 38.) Fig.., a trustworthy person.

KINOLAU

• According to the Hawaiian dictionary, kinolau are “many forms taken by a supernatural body” (Literally: many bodies)

• It is believed that when the gods tangibly manifested themselves on earth they did so in the forms of kinolau

FINAL THOUGHTS ON AKUA

• Traditionally speaking, the relationship that the kanaka maoli had with their akua was a part of their daily lives as shown through protocol, ritual and ceremony.

• Cultural practitioners today have an intimate relationship with their akua, though not to the same degree as i ka wā kahiko (ancient times).

AO

• AO KUEWA/AO `AUANA– Spirits of the dead who were doomed to wander

forever within specific geographic area

• AO `AUMAKUA– The desired realm of the spirit ancestors

• AO O MILU– Realm of Milu

– Dark and endless night

If you have any questions, please ask them on the

Discussion Board.

Mahalo!