Intro / Index

• History of the Native Hawaiians
• Hawaii: Homeland of the Native Hawaiians
• World of the Native Hawaiians & How they make a living
• Native Hawaiian Cosmos
• Birds of the Native Hawaiians
• Native Hawaiians and their Neighbors
• Native Hawaiian Migrations and Diaspora 
• Cultural survival of the Native Hawaiians 
• References 
• Music 

Music

The music style of the native Hawaiians is combination of song and stories. While each story had hidden messages of ancient and religious themes, the culture's job of passing down these stories to new generations keeps most traditions so vividly alive. As to do with the nature worshiping of Hawaiian culture, most songs are about the landscape and way of life on the island. These songs involve chants, musical instruments and dance. Some of the Older instruments of the island were mostly made from plants shells and trees. An example of an ancient instrument would be two "Gourd" sticks being struck together,and conch shells which were played as trumpets. A more recent type of instrument is a ukulele, it is know to be paired with the hula dance(a dance that is considered a more sacred ritual then a form of entertainment). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p97232Nm-8Y -video of a hula dance with music!

References

Websites:
http://www.hawaiiconservation.org/images/uploads/pages/hawaiianculture.pdf

http://www.gohawaii.com/statewide/travel-tips/history

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_the_Native_Hawaiians

http://www.waimea.com/culture.html

http://www.whatbird.com/browse/objs/All/birds_na_147/38/Location/6540/Hawaii

http://www.hawaiihistory.org/index.cfm?CategoryID=305

Cultural Survival

The rich native culture of the naive Hawaiians is a tradition of  ancient and religious stories of higher powers and values being passed down in a trans-generational manner. While there are names of species and places keeping some of the culture alive, westernization has seem to have a little impact on the culture of Hawaii. Hawaiian values such as "Hula" help keep stories interesting and provide knowledge of the history of the island to anyone willing to learn. The modern Hawaiian view on resources and nature hold that cultural belief to respect the animals and nature of the island. This tightly integrated connection between nature and the Hawaiian's culture led to the foundation for the management of natural resources. Another belief is that the native species are ancestors of Hawaiians and they should treat all animals(ancestors) with respect.

Sadly because of Hawaii's amazing weather and beaches, it has become a popular tourist attraction among the whole world. Constant cultural diffusion tears away at some of the main values of the natives.They tend to want to play the role of the west with  The "Hawaiian culture" that we all encounter  when we tour Hawaii, is just a simplified western minded  version of the way the natives used to live. You can have a "Luau" and do some tribal dancing, rituals, and acting like a chief. Without realizing that the corrupted tourist version of  Hawaiian culture doesn't teach you much about the island survival of their ancestors, or how they would make instruments out of the nature they had.

While these tourists attractions still bring in money and interest, cultural diffusion of Hawaii will be constantly altered.

Diaspora of Hawaiian culture

The native Hawaiians were a melting pot of different cultures. Although there is no exact records when settlers first came to the Hawaiian Islands, there is enough evidence that the islands were settled no later than 800A.D. Immigration continued till about 1300 AD. Settlers came from the Marquesas, Saoma, Easter Island, and greater Polynesia. At some point a large number of Tahitian settlers landed in the Hawaiian islands, bringing with them their religious Beliefs. Polynesians,upon finding islands, such as the ones west of the united states, brought along their culture to these islands. This resulted in the similarity of cultures of islands such as New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii. While there is no real evidence of Hawaiians spreading their own culture to other regions, they will commonly come in contact with visitors from everywhere.

Birds

The list of Hawaiian birds are substantial due to the sub tropical living conditions and the abundance of seed and fruit grown on the island. "Nene", The state bird of Hawaii is the world's rarest goose. This Hawaiian goose, which name comes from its soft call, evolved from the Canadian goose then flew to Hawaii once the islands were formed.

Some more Common birds on the all of the main islands include the "Japanese white-eye", "common Mynah", "Northern Cardinal" and many more.

The"Northern cardinal"

Came from eastern US to Hawaii in 1929, he is common to all main islands.

The "common Mynah" 

Introduced from India in 1895 to help control insects, also known as the "trash bird" because it will eat anything.

The "Japanese white-eye"

Introduced from Japan in the 1920s, nests are expected to cause havoc around peoples homes.

(http://www.funtrivia.com/en/subtopics/Backyard-Birds-of-Hawaii-272862.html)

The "Nene" 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Branta_sandvicensis_-Kilauea_Point_National_Wildlife_Refuge%2C_Hawaii%2C_USA-8.jpg/330px-Branta_sandvicensis_-Kilauea_Point_National_Wildlife_Refuge%2C_Hawaii%2C_USA-8.jpg

Neighbors

Some of the neighboring islands and countries of  Hawaii are:

• Midway Islands (U.S.)
• Marshall Islands 
• Kiribrati
• Wake Island
• Papua New Guinea
• New Zealand 
• Fiji
• Australia
• Mexico
• United States

Cosmos

Many of the cosmos of the Hawaiian's are Polynesian mythic traditions as they talk about the natural forces and mans dependence on nature. As told in the "Kumulipo creation chant", they believe in the sky father called "Wakea", and earth mother called "Papa" gave birth to the islands. They believed in two main gods Kane and Kanaloa and a demi-god Maui. The basis of their religion explains how everyone and everything is connected to the same one spirit(Mana). And how the universe is connected as a whole. Hawaiians respected what they thought to be powerful forces of the world and the worship of " Akua "(gods) and " 'Aumakua "(ancestors). Each god represented characteristics of how man and nature interact ;
 Kanaloa: god of the sea
Lono: god of peace rain and fertillity
 In the worship of ancestral figures,individual stories were woven into the memorable fabric. Such stories  would tie together past generations  to the current ones.The stories reflected all core values of Hawaiian society: respect for the land, sea, one another, animals, plants, and the strive for balance and structural unity.

World/ Landscape

Native Hawaiians were the nature loving islanders west of the Americas. Since their culture was such laid back way of life, the native Hawaiians viewed other ways of living differently. They see the big rushed cities and the stressful lives of city people. They see the large acres of farmlands and farmers slaving overproducing enough crops to just make a living.When the average person thinks of Hawaiians, they think of parties and girls in grass skirts, but that is not all of what Hawaiian culture is. The Hawaiian people try to live a simple life by, making their own clothes and growing their own foods on the island such as "taro" a native plant that the Hawaiians believe is their "spiritual brother". They did participate in events and challenges in island based activities. Hawaiians are thankful for everything they have in life and they keep the 'Ohana(family) the closest. They would not kill an animal unless it was for food. They cherished all things that are in nature, being that their religion says that they are all connected. Hawaiians being on an island have  to import most of the things they want. Being the islanders that they are, they use all of their resources to the fullest.They did participate in events and challenges in island based activities. Also they enjoy the combination  of music and dance. Any where you go in Hawaii you are sure to see a game of volleyball being played or a ukulele being strum.

 Green mountians and Volcanoes make up most of Hawaii
 While the beaches and coastal areas serve for fishing and tourism.

Homeland

Hawaii is made up of 9 Islands, Kaula, Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lani, Kahoolawe, Maui, and Hawaii. These islands are grouped together into 4 major cities:
Maui-which includes Lani, Maui, Molokai, and Kahoolawe islands
Honolulu- which includes Oahu island
Kauai- which includes Kauai, Niihau, and Kaula islands
Hawaii- which includes the island of Hawaii

These islands arose out of the sea by volcanoes that opened up about 25 million years ago.
Together they form a 16- hundred mile chain of islands, roughly lying 20 degrees north latitude.
  
The Western Islands are the oldest islands and as you move right each island gets younger.
Many areas receive heavy rainfall, about 240 inches a year.

The beaches of the islands are made up of either pulverization of corals and shells that would give it a bright white color, or eroded lava flows that reached into the ocean giving it a black color like on the beaches of Kalapana.

Hawaii's climate is mostly tropical/sub-tropical, but temperatures can go from below freezing on the mountain tops to above 90 degrees at sea level.

The ocean that surrounds the islands moderates the temperatures near the coast so they wont change to dramatically.

In the wetter winter months (November-April), known to the ancient Hawaiians as the "Hoo-ilo Season", Hawaii experiences hot tropical storms known as "Kona Storms"

History

The Native Hawaiians are made up of a blend of Polynesians

 "Cultures of the Marquesas and Tahiti (polynesian)"

Hawaiians are considered to have a laid-back, nature loving culture.

The Social class system consisted 5 levels:
1. Mo’i- Considered King of the Land
2. Ali’i- People next in line to the Mo’i
3. Priests- Highly respected, named “Kahuna”
4. Maka’aniana- Commoners that make up most of the population
5. Kauwa- Slaves  or Prisoners of War

They held rituals for aid in war, fertility, harvesting season, death attaining adulthood, and birth.

A familiar ritual is called the “Ho’oponopono” which is a cultural practice of reconciliation and forgiveness, which is usually combined with prayer.

It is also customary to hold a Luau to celebrate a child's first birthday, and for a bride and groom to do a money dance called “Pandago”.

The Hawaiians excelled in two categories, Clothing and Recreation.

The quality of clothing came from the material they used called “Kapa”.

Their recreation included mostly water sports (surfing, swimming, and racing canoes), but also included wrestling and games that would build a better warrior (warrior training games).

Hula is a highly-evolved art form, using combined dance, religious observance, celebration and poetic literary composition. It is always accompanied by story and chant.

Waging and gambling were component concepts of the vast tournaments they held which attracted large crowds of  up to 8,000 spectators.

The Natives expected people to act with the reverence(deep respect) for the environment.

First inhabitants brought with them a number of plants and animals that became staples in their diet, from sugarcane and taro to chickens and pigs.

While they fished heavy on the shorelines, they did most of their agriculture and farming on the mountains.

They broiled their food using hot coals(ko’ala) or hot ashes(pulehu), and for food that burned easily it was wrapped in ti leaves(lauau).

For roasting and steaming the food, they used a hot pit dug in the ground called “Imu” or earth oven.
It used hot stones to cook the food, and it usually took anywhere from 1-48 hours to cook depending on the food.
2 scoops of rice
simplified macaroni salad
hamburger patty
fried egg
gravy of Loco Moco
Japanese style tonkasu
Kalua pig (fire roasted), beef, and curry

A “plate lunch” was the typical hawaiian meal and it  included: