The document summarizes Hawaiian creation myths and the origins of the Hawaiian people according to the Kumulipo epic chant. It describes how Papahānaumoku (Earth Mother) and Wākea (Sky Father) gave birth to the Hawaiian islands and people. It then focuses on the myth of Hāloa, in which Papa and Wākea's daughter Hoʻohōkūkalani gave birth to twins - the first was Hāloanakalaukapalili, who was buried and from whom grew the first kalo plant, and the second was Hāloa, who was the first Hawaiian man. The kalo plant and 'ohana (family) are seen as
2. KUMULIPO
• The lineage of Papahānaumoku (also known as
Papa or Haumea) and Wākea are mentioned in the
Kumulipo, the epic chant of creation according to
the Hawaiian people.
• According to the Kumulipo, Papahānaumoku
(Earth Mother) was born in darkness and Wākea
(Sky Father) was created in the light. Their union,
symbolizing male light’s penetration into female’s
darkness, brought forth the birth of the Hawaiian
islands and the Hawaiian people.
3. PAPA
• Dr. Taupōuri Tangarō defines
Papa as “the earth, the crust
upon which floats the oceans,
her ambiotic fluid; the crust
that feeds the growth of coral,
the placenta of ocean life.
Whereas Wākea anchors us to
the universe, Papahānaumoku
anchors us to a geography,
our sacred land base.”
4. WĀKEA
Tangarō defines Wākea as
“the male parent of Premordial
origins, this informs us that
Hawaiʻi’s traditional
consciousness is not only
land-based, but celestial, not
only anchored in living land
but in the sky, as well.”
The Hawaiian Dictionary
defines Wākea as the mythical
ancestor of all Hawaiians.
5. HĀLOA
• The myth of Hāloa is located
in the Kumulipo and has
been passed down generation
to generations
• The word Hāloa itself means
long breath and infers to the
strength and endurance of
the Hawaiian people.
Without breath we have no
life; without without we have
no voice.
6. MYTH OF HĀLOA
• Papa and Wākea had a daughter
named Hoʻohōkūkalani. Wākea and
Hoʻohōkūkalani together conceived
a child. Their union resulted in two
births.
7. MYTH OF HĀLOA
• The first birth was an unformed
fetus (keiki ʻaluʻalu), who was
born prematurely. He was
named Hāloanakalaukapalili,
meaning the quivering long
stalk. Hāloanakalaukapalili was
buried at the eastern corner of
the house and from his burial
grew the first kalo (taro) plant.
8. KA HIKINA: The east
• The sun rises in the east
and brings forth new life.
• The east signifies birth,
life, and growth.
• Tangarō states that “the
birth of the sun in the
east is the birth of
consciousness, it relates
to this sacred space.”
9. MYTH OF HĀLOA
• The second birth was a
child named Hāloa in
honor of his elder
brother. Hāloa was born
strong and healthy and
is believed to be the first
kanaka maoli, or
Hawaiian man.
10. KULEANA
• Thus, Haloanakalaukapalili, the
kalo, is considered to be the older
sibling and the kanaka Hawai`i
(Hawaiian people) the younger
sibling.
• It is said that if you take care of
your older siblings and your
mother, they will nurture and take
care of you.
• This is the relationship that the
Hawaiians have to kalo.
11. KALO
• The kalo (taro) plant
plays a vital part in the
genealogy of the
Hawaiian people as their
most important crop and
main sustenance. It is
man’s responsibility to
take care of the ʻāina
(land) so that the ʻāina
will feed the people.
12. `OHANA
• It is also important to note
that the term ʻohana (family)
comes from the kalo plant
itself. The corm of the kalo is
called the ʻohā. The ʻohā is
the main part of the plant that
is used to feed one’s ʻohana.
As the young shoot grows
from the corm, people grow
from the family.
13. SHOWING RESPECT
• In Hawaiian tradition, it is considered
disrespectful to fight in front of an
elder. One should not raise the voice,
speak angrily or make rude comments
or gestures.
• As such, when the poi bowl was open,
there must be no quarreling or arguing
for it was a sign of disrespect to Hāloa
because Haloa (Taro) is the elder
brother of humans.
