Jennifer Wada at 06:51, 3 April 2006

2006-04-03T06:51:12Z

Jennifer Wada at 10:23, 8 March 2006

2006-03-08T10:23:25Z

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all classes of society and, according
to one historian, "insured the
subordination of the lower to the
higher." 11/ Another author explains
the meaning of kapu as follows:
In its fundamental meaning
tapu [kapu] as a word was used
primarily as an adjective and
as such signified that which
was psychically dangerous,
hence restricted, forbidden,
set apart, to be avoided,
because: (a) divine,
therefore requiring isolation
for its own sake from both the
common and the corrupt; (b)
corrupt, hence dangerous to
the common and the divine,
therefore requiring isolation
from both for their sakes. 12/
Everything associated with the gods
was sacred and there were many kapu
surrounding priests and anything else
related to the gods. Chiefs were
believed to be descended from the gods
and were surrounded by a great number
of kapu, depending on their rank and,
hence, degree of sacredness. The best
known of the kapu that affected all
classes was the prohibition against
men and women eating together. Women
were also forbidden to eat certain
foods such as pork, and certain types
of bananas, coconuts, and fish. 13/
The social system of the islands
consisted basically of the king,
followed by the ali'i (chiefs) of
various degrees, kahuna (priests/
advisors), and the maka'ainana
(commoners). There was also a slave
class, the kauwa, below the
maka'ainana, but little is known about
it. 14/ The king was regarded as
sacred and held the power of life and
death over his subjects. His
executive duties included warfare,
questions of state, and overseeing the
performance of religious rites. 15/
The king and ali ' i of the highest
rank were protected by the strictest
of kapu, in order to preserve their
mana (divine power) and the
beneficence of the gods, upon which
the entire kingdom depended for its
prosperity. Great care was taken to*
secure noble offspring with the purest
genealogy and thus ensure the
continuation of the dynasty and the
good favor of the gods. A suitable
partner for a chief of the highest
rank was his full-blooded sister.
The child of such a union would be a
"chief of the highest rank, a ninau
pi'o, so sacred that all who came into
his presence must prostrate
themselves." 16/ For this reason, the
genealogies of the kings were
carefully preserved by their
descendants to determine the purity of
the bloodline of both partners. 17/
The political system of the islands
consisted of small kingdoms under
ali'i, with four main groupings:
Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai.
Competing ali 'i waqed wars against
each other, and, as a result,
boundaries advanced and retreated
according to the ability and ambition
of their sovereigns. 18/ There was
much discussion in the comments
received by the Commission about
whether the ancient land system could
be termed "feudal." 19/ Authors
disagree on the subject. William Russ
states that "a feudal regime
prevailed," 20/ and describes the
relationships among the various
classes in feudal terms. Lawrence
Fuchs says that: "The religious,
family, and property systems of feudal
Hawaii and feudal Europe were
different, but there were many
parallels between the two." 21/
Regardless of the term employed,
written descriptions of the system are
similar. The following is from Jon
Chinen, a noted Hawaiian land expert,
who does not use the word "feudal:"
When Kamehameha The Great
brought all the Hawaiian Islands
under his control at the
beginning of the Eighteenth
Century, he simply followed the
land system that had existed
within the Islands from ancient
{{p|148}}

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 to one historian, "insured the
 subordination of the lower to the
-higher." 11/ Another author explains
+higher." <u>11</u>/ Another author explains
 the meaning of kapu as follows:
 In its fundamental meaning
-tapu [kapu] as a word was used
+:In its fundamental meaning
 primarily as an adjective and
 as such signified that which
@@ Line 18: / Line 19: @@
 the common and the divine,
 therefore requiring isolation
-from both for their sakes. 12/
+from both for their sakes. <u>12</u>/
 Everything associated with the gods
-was sacred and there were many kapu
+was sacred and there were many <u>kapu</u>
 surrounding priests and anything else
 related to the gods. Chiefs were
 believed to be descended from the gods
 and were surrounded by a great number
-of kapu, depending on their rank and,
+of <u>kapu</u>, depending on their rank and,
 hence, degree of sacredness. The best
-known of the kapu that affected all
+known of the <u>kapu</u> that affected all
 classes was the prohibition against
 men and women eating together. Women
 were also forbidden to eat certain
 foods such as pork, and certain types
-of bananas, coconuts, and fish. 13/
+of bananas, coconuts, and fish. <u>13</u>/
 The social system of the islands
 consisted basically of the king,
-followed by the ali'i (chiefs) of
+followed by the <u>ali'i</u> (chiefs) of
-various degrees, kahuna (priests/
+various degrees, <u>kahuna</u> (priests/
-advisors), and the maka'ainana
+advisors), and the <u>maka'ainana</u>
 (commoners). There was also a slave
-class, the kauwa, below the
+class, the <u>kauwa</u>, below the
-maka'ainana, but little is known about
+<u>maka'ainana</u>, but little is known about
-it. 14/ The king was regarded as
+it. <u>14</u>/ The king was regarded as
 sacred and held the power of life and
 death over his subjects. His
 executive duties included warfare,
 questions of state, and overseeing the
-performance of religious rites. 15/
+performance of religious rites. <u>15</u>/
 The king and ali ' i of the highest
 rank were protected by the strictest
-of kapu, in order to preserve their
+of <u>kapu</u>, in order to preserve their
-mana (divine power) and the
+<u>mana</u> (divine power) and the
 beneficence of the gods, upon which
 the entire kingdom depended for its
@@ Line 61: / Line 65: @@
 rank was his full-blooded sister.
 The child of such a union would be a
-"chief of the highest rank, a ninau
+"chief of the highest rank, a <u>ninau</u>
-pi'o, so sacred that all who came into
+<u>pi'o</u>, so sacred that all who came into
 his presence must prostrate
-themselves." 16/ For this reason, the
+themselves." <u>16</u>/ For this reason, the
 genealogies of the kings were
 carefully preserved by their
 descendants to determine the purity of
-the bloodline of both partners. 17/
+the bloodline of both partners. <u>17</u>/
 The political system of the islands
 consisted of small kingdoms under
-ali'i, with four main groupings:
+<u>ali'i</u>, with four main groupings:
 Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai.
-Competing ali 'i waqed wars against
+Competing <u>ali'i</u> waged wars against
 each other, and, as a result,
 boundaries advanced and retreated
 according to the ability and ambition
-of their sovereigns. 18/ There was
+of their sovereigns. <u>18</u>/ There was
 much discussion in the comments
 received by the Commission about
 whether the ancient land system could
-be termed "feudal." 19/ Authors
+be termed "feudal." <u>19</u>/ Authors
 disagree on the subject. William Russ
 states that "a feudal regime
-prevailed," 20/ and describes the
+prevailed," <u>20</u>/ and describes the
 relationships among the various
 classes in feudal terms. Lawrence
@@ Line 91: / Line 96: @@
 Hawaii and feudal Europe were
 different, but there were many
-parallels between the two." 21/
+parallels between the two." <u>21</u>/
 Regardless of the term employed,
 written descriptions of the system are
@@ Line 97: / Line 103: @@
 Chinen, a noted Hawaiian land expert,
 who does not use the word "feudal:"
 When Kamehameha The Great
-brought all the Hawaiian Islands
+:When Kamehameha The Great brought all the Hawaiian Islands under his control at the beginning of the Eighteenth Century, he simply followed the land system that had existed within the Islands from ancient
 {{p|148}}

Template:Nhsc-v1-148 - Revision history

Jennifer Wada at 06:51, 3 April 2006

Jennifer Wada at 10:23, 8 March 2006