About this video

• Video Title: Cosmogonic Genealogies
• Channel: Noah (Keola) Ryan
• Speakers: Noah (Keola) Ryan
• Duration: 00:45:37

Overview

This video explores Polynesian creation stories, specifically focusing on "cosmogonic genealogies." The speaker explains how these narratives, which detail the creation of the universe through a series of births, are crucial for understanding the deep connection indigenous peoples have to their lands and ancestors. The video examines creation myths from Tahiti, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Hawai'i, highlighting common themes and distinct elements. It also delves into three fundamental lessons derived from Hawaiian creation stories: malama (caring for the environment), aikapu (sacred eating and dualism), and nēpō (incestuous relationships among high-ranking chiefs to increase mana).

Key takeaways

• Cosmogonic Genealogies: These are creation stories that explain the origin of the universe through a lineage of births, establishing a deep connection between people and their ancestral lands.
• Anchoring to Place: These stories root indigenous peoples to their land, emphasizing that they originated from that place rather than migrating from elsewhere.
• Importance of Genealogy: Mohala and mo'ohao (stories and genealogies) are vital for demonstrating how individuals are connected to their ancestral lands.
• Tahitian Creation Story (Rumia): The universe begins as a cosmic egg from which the deity Taroa emerges, creating land and sky, and eventually humans.
• Māori Creation Story (Aotearoa): Creation progresses through three states: Te Kore (nothingness), Te Pō (darkness), and Te Ao Mārama (light), involving the separation of sky father Ranginui and earth mother Papatūānuku, and a war among their offspring.
• Hawaiian Creation Stories: Two prominent stories are presented: one where Earth Mother Papa Hanamoku gives birth to islands, and another, Kumulipo, which details a more extensive creation process from darkness to light, involving numerous deities and life forms.
• Three Fundamental Lessons from Hawaiian Creation:
  • Malama (Care for the Environment): Humans have a familial relationship with nature (aina) and a responsibility to care for it as it sustains life.
  • Aikapu (Sacred Eating & Dualism): This ancient religion involves restrictions on eating certain foods representing deities and emphasizes separating male and female energies to maintain balance (pono).
  • Nēpō (Incest): Among the highest-ranking chiefs, incestuous relationships were practiced to increase rank and mana, potentially leading to the deification of offspring.
• Cultural DNA: Creation stories reveal the core values and worldview of a culture.

In Māori tradition, the "war of the gods" was caused by Tāne Mahuta being tired of living in darkness and cramped conditions between Rangiui (sky father) and Papatūānuku (earth mother). He forced them apart, pushing Rangiui up to his current position and Papatūānuku down, which allowed sunlight into the world but also created discord among their offspring, leading to conflict.

The Hawaiian proverb you provided, "i ulu no ka lala i ke kumu," translates to "the branches grow because of the trunk." In the context of the video, this proverb signifies the importance of ancestors and the interconnectedness of lineage. It emphasizes that our existence is a result of those who came before us and highlights our responsibilities to both our ancestors and future descendants.

In the Māori creation story, the "war of the gods" is caused by Tāne Mahuta and his siblings becoming tired of living in the darkness and cramped space between their parents, Ranginui (sky father) and Papatūānuku (earth mother). Tāne Mahuta takes the initiative to push his parents apart, creating the space and light of Te Ao Mārama (the world of light). This separation, however, leads to conflict among the siblings, as some agree with the separation while others do not.

Papa Hanamoku (Earth Mother) and Wākea (Sky Father) are the key figures in one of the Hawaiian creation stories discussed in the video. In this narrative, Papa Hanamoku gives birth to islands, with the island of Hawai'i being her eldest child. Wākea has an affair with Hoku Kalani, their daughter, which leads to the conception of Haloa, the first Hawaiian person and primary ancestor. This story illustrates themes of creation, lineage, and the familial connection between the land and its people.

In this Hawaiian creation story:

• Papa Hanamoku (Earth Mother) and Wākea (Sky Father) are the initial pairing.
• Hoku Kalani is their daughter.
• Wākea has an affair with his daughter, Hoku Kalani.
• Their union results in a stillborn child, Haloanakalaukapilili (Haloa for short), who is buried in the earth and from whom the kalo (taro) plant sprouts.
• Papa Hanamoku and Wākea then have another child, Haloa, who is born healthy and becomes the first Ali'i (chief) and the primary ancestor of the Hawaiian people.

The three fundamental lessons introduced by the story of Papa Hanamoku and Wākea in Hawaiian society are:

1. Malama (Care for the Environment): This lesson emphasizes the familial relationship humans have with the natural world (aina). Since humans are descended from and related to the land and its elements, they have a responsibility to care for it, just as family members care for each other.
2. Aikapu (Sacred Eating and Dualism): This refers to the ancient Hawaiian religion which involves sacred eating practices and the concept of dualism. It highlights that all things have male and female aspects and that separating these energies is necessary to establish balance (pono). Eating certain foods representing deities was done with reverence.
3. Nēpō (Incest): This lesson explores the practice of incest, particularly among the highest-ranking chiefs, as a means to increase their rank and mana (spiritual power). The story illustrates how such unions were believed to produce offspring of exceptionally high status, potentially even divine.

The video states that Ni'aupio (incest) was a practice reserved only for the highest-ranking chiefs.

The purpose of this practice was to increase a chief's rank and mana (spiritual energy). By engaging in Ni'aupio, chiefs aimed to produce offspring of such high rank that they could eventually be considered divine, or akua.

The video explains that Aikapu is the ancient religion of Hawai'i, literally meaning "sacred eating." It is significant for two main reasons:

1. Sacred Eating: Different foods, plants, and animals represent different deities (both male and female). There were restrictions on who could eat what, based on gender and the divine representation of the food. Eating these foods was an act of worship, and it was done with great reverence because these foods were considered divine.
2. Dualism and Pono: Aikapu emphasizes the dualistic nature of the world, with male and female energies present in everything. To prevent chaos and establish order and balance (pono), these male and female energies had to be separated. This meant men and women ate separately and consumed different foods, ensuring a balance in the world. The ultimate purpose of Aikapu was to establish pono.

In the context of Aikapu, food is considered sacred because different foods, animals, and plants represent different deities. Therefore, consuming them is seen as interacting with the divine.

The many restrictions regarding eating are significant because:

• Gendered Restrictions: Men and women had restrictions on eating certain foods that represented deities of the opposite gender.
• Maintaining Pono (Balance): The restrictions helped maintain the balance between male and female energies in the world. By separating who ate what and when, Aikapu aimed to prevent chaos that could arise from the constant mingling of these energies.

The purpose of the Aikapu religion is to establish pono (balance) in the world by managing the dualistic nature of male and female energies through practices like sacred eating and separation.

Malama 'aina means to "care for the land" or "take care of nature." It is significant because it stems from the understanding that humans are not separate from nature but are intimately related to the land and its elements, sharing a familial connection.

The reciprocal obligation for people and 'aina (nature) to care for each other arises from this familial bond. The 'aina provides humans with all the essentials for life, acting as an older sibling or provider. In return, humans are obligated to respect, tend to, and cultivate the land, ensuring its well-being. This creates a reciprocal relationship, much like in a family, where care is given and received, ensuring the survival and flourishing of both humans and the environment.

The phrase "he ali'i ka 'aina, he kua/kuawa ke kanaka" translates to "the land is a chief, the people are its servants."

Significance: This Hawaiian proverb is significant because it establishes a clear hierarchy that is the opposite of the Judeo-Christian tradition where humans are given dominion over the earth. In this Hawaiian worldview:

• Nature ('aina) is paramount: It is considered the chief, holding a position of authority and importance.
• Humans are subordinate: People are viewed as servants to the land. This means humans are not meant to dominate or exploit nature but rather to serve it, recognizing that their survival depends entirely on its well-being. This perspective underscores the deep respect and dependence Hawaiians have for the natural world.

Here's the information about the Kumulipo from the video:

• Origin: The Kumulipo is from the Hawaiian Islands, specifically the Hawai'i island tradition.
• Purpose: Its purpose is to detail a comprehensive creation story, showing the origin of the universe and all life. It also serves to establish the divinity and right to rule of a chief.
• Composed For: It was composed for the great chief Kalani nui ahumoku (also known as Lonoikamakahiki) at his birth, acting as a pule ali'i (consecration prayer).

Here is one element identified from each of the first eight wā (time periods) described in the Kumulipo:

• Wā 1 (Po): Creation of the primal energies, Po (female) and Kumulipo (male).
• Wā 2: Birth of basic coral reef creatures and seaweeds (e.g., uku'a).
• Wā 3: Birth of more complex marine life, such as fish and other swimming animals.
• Wā 4: Birth of creepers and crawlers on land, including plants and insects.
• Wā 5: Birth of more complex terrestrial life forms, such as pigs and the kalo plant.
• Wā 6: Birth of nibblers, like rats and lice (uku).
• Wā 7: Creation of dogs and bats (elua and opaa).
• Wā 8: The gods begin to come into the picture, including Lā'i (female) and Ki, Kāne, and Kanaloa (male).

The video explains Aikapu as the ancient religion of Hawai'i, literally meaning "sacred eating." It's significant because it involves:

• Sacred Eating: Certain foods are considered sacred as they represent deities. There were specific restrictions on who could eat what, based on gender, to show reverence for the divine.
• Dualism and Pono: Aikapu emphasizes the balance (pono) between male and female energies. To maintain this balance and prevent chaos, these energies were separated through practices like men and women eating apart and consuming different foods. The core purpose of Aikapu was to establish this balance.

Aikapu is explained as the ancient religion of Hawai'i, with its literal meaning being "sacred eating."

Its significance lies in two main aspects:

1. Sacred Eating: Certain foods were considered sacred because they represented deities. There were strict rules about who could eat what, especially concerning gender, as a way to show reverence.
2. Dualism and Pono: Aikapu emphasized the balance (pono) between male and female energies present in everything. To maintain this balance and avoid chaos, these energies were kept separate, leading to practices like men and women eating apart and consuming different foods. The overarching goal of Aikapu was to establish pono.

The video mentions 'Ali'i as chiefs. It also discusses that the Kumulipo story was composed to prove a chief's right to rule, and that incestuous practices (nēpō) were used by chiefs to increase their rank and mana to the point of becoming akua (gods).

The term 'Mo'i' is not explicitly defined or used in the transcript.

The video defines Malama 'aina as "to care for the land" or "to take care of nature." It's significant because it highlights the deep, familial connection Hawaiians have with the natural world. This relationship creates a reciprocal obligation: just as the land sustains humans, humans are responsible for caring for and respecting the land.