About this video

• Video Title: PPT: Hoʻomana Hawaiʻi - Gods & Places of Worship
• Channel: Noah (Keola) Ryan
• Speakers: Noah (Keola) Ryan
• Duration: 00:37:35

Overview

This video provides an introduction to Hawaiian spirituality, referred to as "Hoʻomana Hawaiʻi," focusing on its deities and places of worship. It explains that "Hoʻomana" literally means to make or increase "mana," which is the spiritual life force flowing through all things. The video differentiates Hawaiian spirituality from Western concepts of organized religion, highlighting its localized nature and its deep connection to place. It details various deities, their roles, their physical manifestations (kinolau), and their counterparts, as well as different types of sacred spaces, from grand temples to simple stone altars.

Key takeaways

• Hoʻomana Hawaiʻi and Mana: The core of Hawaiian spirituality is "mana," a spiritual life force. "Hoʻomana" is the act of generating or increasing this mana.
• Localized Spirituality: Unlike organized religions, Hawaiian spirituality is deeply connected to specific places, with deities often pertaining to particular regions rather than being universally worshipped.
• Polytheistic and Ancestral Basis: The belief system is polytheistic, with many gods who can be ancestral or based on the diversity of nature. Loved ones can ascend to become deities.
• Major Deities: The video introduces key deities such as Kanaloa (god of the ocean, fishing, voyaging, death), Kane (god of life, procreation, freshwater), Lono (god of peace, fertility, agriculture, sports), and Kū (god of politics, government, war, farming, fishing).
• Female Deities: Important female deities like Hina (goddess of the moon, reef fishing, kapa making) and Hāloa (goddess of childbirth and nurturing) are discussed, along with their significance and associated concepts of female mana.
• Alakua (Ancestral Guardians): Ancestors who lived well can become "alakua," acting as guiding spirits for their descendants. They can manifest in animal forms and are considered part of a spiritual realm akin to heaven.
• Places of Worship (Heiau): Various sacred spaces are described, including large "state heiau" like Luakini (for Kū, permitting human sacrifice) and Wōwō (for Lono, associated with Makahiki festivals), and smaller, more personal structures like "unumu" (offering platforms), "kōā" (fishing markers), and "pōhaku o kāne" (family stones).
• Halepeʻa (Women's Menstruation House): This space is explained not as a place of confinement but as a sacred female sanctuary where women commune with deities during menstruation, a time of peak female mana, to maintain balance in society.

In Hawaiian tradition, Kū is a major deity associated with politics, government, and war, as well as farming and fishing. He is seen as a god of governance, where war is a function of maintaining order and providing for society. Kū is described as a very strict deity, important for defending a country or conquering another. His ceremonies are also very strict, requiring perfection to appease him. Some of his kinolau (physical manifestations) include the shark, hawk, dog, eel, and various plants like 'ea, 'ōhi'a, and 'ōlū.

Haumea is described as a great deity and the epitome of female mana. She is responsible for all aspects of childbirth and raising young infants. Her kinolau include all women, menstrual cycles, trees, forests, and the breadfruit tree (ulu). In legend, Haumea is known as the mother of Pele and her Heiyaka sisters, and also the mother of the demigods Kamapuaʻa and Maui. On Oʻahu, she is known as Kūhoʻiʻiʻi, the deity of government and war for that island.

The hale peʻa is described as a sacred female space and a place of worship. It is often translated as a "women's menstruation house," but its significance goes beyond that. During menstruation, when a woman is considered to be at the peak of her mana, she retreats to the hale peʻa to maintain the balance of mana in general society. This separation prevents the powerful female mana from disrupting the balance. It is a sanctuary where women commune with and worship female deities. Men are forbidden from entering or even being near the hale peʻa, as their presence could destroy the sacredness of the space and disrupt the established balance. The Hawaiian view is that it's a place for women to worship, not a prison or a place where they are seen as defiling.

Kanaloa is a major Hawaiian deity. He is the god of the deep ocean, fishing, and voyaging. He is also associated with aspects of healing and ocean winds. Kanaloa represents the natural life cycle, including death, as the spirit is believed to return to the ocean. The ocean, as Kanaloa, is seen as cleansing and capable of removing defilement. His kinolau (physical manifestations) include the ocean itself, mu (squid), heʻe (octopus), ocean winds, and the sunset. He is considered the counterpart to Kane, the god of life.

The transcript mentions "aliʻi" in the context of the larger "state heiau" structures, stating that these were organized by the aliʻi (chiefs). It also mentions that the government (which would be led by aliʻi) had to step in to help feed people during the construction of these large structures.

The term "moi" is not present in the transcript. Therefore, I cannot provide a comparison or explanation of the difference between them based on this video.