Origins Of The Hawaiian Kingdom
For many centuries, the ancient Hawaiians lived in isolation from the world. During this period of time, the Islands had a unique economy, in which the people would grow and gather their own food, and provided for their own needs. This economy was founded upon the ahupua’a, a sacred regulation of the land, which divided it from the mountains to several miles offshore. The Hawaiians grew grow crops such as taro, sweet potatoes, breadfruit, and sugarcane; raise pigs or chickens; and gather fish and shellfish.
With the subsistence economy, the ancient Hawaiians used no money or any currency. They simply shared their surpluses of crops and materials with those in need. The inhabitants of the upland valleys or on the mountain tops would go and trade with the people who lived closer to the sea for various ingredients, materials and supplies that could not be obtained on the mountain peaks.
Without contact with the outside world, traditional Hawaiian society was characterized a mix of religion, government, and culture that had its primary basis, in which it was connected through nature. The kapu system, as it is called today, consisted of a set of rules and regulations that guided people’s daily lives to achieve favor from the gods. The kapu system was seriously challenged by the arrival of foreigners because they were not punished by the Hawaiian gods for breaking the rules and regulation. The social life of Hawaiians was eventually transformed with the arrival of the foreigners.
The kapu system separated Hawaiian society into four different groups: the ali'i, the kahuna, the maka`ainana, and the kauwa. The ali’i were chiefs who ruled territories and who held their positions based upon family ties and their ability to lead. The kahuna were priests or skilled craftspeople who performed important religious ceremonies and served as advisers to the ali’i. The maka`ainana were common people, by far the largest of the four groups. It was they who raised families, grew crops, hunted and fished, built shelters and canoes, and performed countless other daily tasks. The kauwa were the outcasts of early Hawaiian society, forced to live in isolation. The kapu system can be related to England's societal classes as well.
Before the ancient Hawaiian's had contact with the outside world, Native Hawaiians lived without the concept of private ownership of land. To them, one could not own the land, the ‘aina, anymore than one could own the sea. Land was a resource to be used by all and cared for by all. The common people were free to live anywhere and everywhere, but most chose to remain close to their ancestral homeland due to their heritage. All of that was changed by the arrival of people from the world apart from Hawai’i.
The ancient Hawaiians once lived in peace and harmony with each other. With trade being the primary economical currency no money was involved. Land could not be purchased by anyone. The different classes of society were established with- rich, middle, poor and outcast/isolation. The ancient Hawaiians lived off of the land freely and traded supplies for materials. This all changed when the Foreigners set foot on the Islands. The origins of the Hawaiian kingdom became a dream or a story to those that once remembered it because the kingdom was demolished with the help or contribution towards all of the non-native humans that trampled on it. The origins of the Hawaiian kingdom seemed peaceful with no money, taxes or bibles. As it was then let it be now, forever rest in peace Hawaiian kingdom.
Cites Used-
https://hta8405-hta-pps.gradpoint.com/Frame/Component/CoursePlayer?enrollmentid=6178628&itemid=PGF3P
http://www.hawaiihistory.org/
Google Quiz-
https://docs.google.com/a/myhta.org/forms/d/1GdD3-AyJjiQh6C5qCk74inWpwA35IXD3xe6ZEkhWdv4/edit
Pictures-
http://www.bigislandguru.com/uploads/9/3/2/8/9328373/8350197_orig.jpg
http://chinatownhonolulu.org/media/assets/PortOfHonolulu.jpg
http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/hpd/images/burimages/bur012.jpg
With the subsistence economy, the ancient Hawaiians used no money or any currency. They simply shared their surpluses of crops and materials with those in need. The inhabitants of the upland valleys or on the mountain tops would go and trade with the people who lived closer to the sea for various ingredients, materials and supplies that could not be obtained on the mountain peaks.
Without contact with the outside world, traditional Hawaiian society was characterized a mix of religion, government, and culture that had its primary basis, in which it was connected through nature. The kapu system, as it is called today, consisted of a set of rules and regulations that guided people’s daily lives to achieve favor from the gods. The kapu system was seriously challenged by the arrival of foreigners because they were not punished by the Hawaiian gods for breaking the rules and regulation. The social life of Hawaiians was eventually transformed with the arrival of the foreigners.
The kapu system separated Hawaiian society into four different groups: the ali'i, the kahuna, the maka`ainana, and the kauwa. The ali’i were chiefs who ruled territories and who held their positions based upon family ties and their ability to lead. The kahuna were priests or skilled craftspeople who performed important religious ceremonies and served as advisers to the ali’i. The maka`ainana were common people, by far the largest of the four groups. It was they who raised families, grew crops, hunted and fished, built shelters and canoes, and performed countless other daily tasks. The kauwa were the outcasts of early Hawaiian society, forced to live in isolation. The kapu system can be related to England's societal classes as well.
Before the ancient Hawaiian's had contact with the outside world, Native Hawaiians lived without the concept of private ownership of land. To them, one could not own the land, the ‘aina, anymore than one could own the sea. Land was a resource to be used by all and cared for by all. The common people were free to live anywhere and everywhere, but most chose to remain close to their ancestral homeland due to their heritage. All of that was changed by the arrival of people from the world apart from Hawai’i.
The ancient Hawaiians once lived in peace and harmony with each other. With trade being the primary economical currency no money was involved. Land could not be purchased by anyone. The different classes of society were established with- rich, middle, poor and outcast/isolation. The ancient Hawaiians lived off of the land freely and traded supplies for materials. This all changed when the Foreigners set foot on the Islands. The origins of the Hawaiian kingdom became a dream or a story to those that once remembered it because the kingdom was demolished with the help or contribution towards all of the non-native humans that trampled on it. The origins of the Hawaiian kingdom seemed peaceful with no money, taxes or bibles. As it was then let it be now, forever rest in peace Hawaiian kingdom.
Cites Used-
https://hta8405-hta-pps.gradpoint.com/Frame/Component/CoursePlayer?enrollmentid=6178628&itemid=PGF3P
http://www.hawaiihistory.org/
Google Quiz-
https://docs.google.com/a/myhta.org/forms/d/1GdD3-AyJjiQh6C5qCk74inWpwA35IXD3xe6ZEkhWdv4/edit
Pictures-
http://www.bigislandguru.com/uploads/9/3/2/8/9328373/8350197_orig.jpg
http://chinatownhonolulu.org/media/assets/PortOfHonolulu.jpg
http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/hpd/images/burimages/bur012.jpg