November 14, 2004

Perpetuated In Righteousness- A Spiritual History of Hawaii Part One

Wahinie with Ipu

Prior to comming to Hawaii, I became familiar with the writings/teaching of Dan Kikawa. He has done extensive research into the history and culture of the Hawaiian and other "Proto Polynesian" peoples. Many of his theories on the migration of the ProtoPolynesians is subject to great debate and theologians debate his thoughts and his positions on the use of the stars by the Divine as a way to communicate to His people and other things that are fodder of many other days blogging. I will say this. Christian Native Hawaiians that I have met and discussed this subject with are adamant that the oldest stories and teachings given by the "Kapuna" or elders very closely resemble Biblical stories in the early Old Testiment. It is not believed that this is due to a cultural contamination from an outside source. Hawaii was not "discovered" by the Spanish or other "Christian" nations, and these legends or widespread from the Maori of New Zealand, to Hawaii and much of Polynesia.

I give you excerpts from Dr. Kikawa's book as he tells the story best and with my thanks! Mahalo Nui and Aloha ke Akua! (Thank you much and may God Bless You)




SPIRITUAL HISTORY OF HAWAII

The Following Is From

Daniel I. Kikawa's Book

PERPETUATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

With the permission of the author

the following consists of excerpts

from Mr. Kikawa's book. For brevity, we have omitted

the references as cited in his book.

The author (Daniel Kikawa) was privileged to have an interview with "Auntie" Malia Craver. Auntie Malia spoke Hawaiian as a first language and learned many things from her kupuna (elders). Her mentor was the most respected Hawaiian authority of modern times, Mary Kawena Pukui. Antie Malia told the author that although her kupuna worshipped the Supreme Being, 'Io, daily and taught her to do the same, they rarely mentioned their belief in 'Io to those outside of the 'ohana (family). Until this day, Auntie Malia does not speak of 'Io unless asked specifically about him and only if she can see that the person will not belittle her God. She said that when Christianity came to Hawai'i, there was confusion in the 'ohana because they already had a Supreme Being. In an interview in the 'Iolani Newspaper, Malia related that her ancestors said, "Let us go to this church and listen to their minister. If it is good and they are right in their teaching about their powerful God of the universe, then we will keep that same God. The reason that we have a God like theirs. If they are exaggerating that their God is better than our God, then they are wrong. We Hawaiians have had a powerful and all-knowing God from the beginning and until today." Her kupuna accepted Jehovah but never told the missionaries about 'Io because they knew that their God would be ridiculed and called the devil by the missionaries. However, she would hear her kupuna say while praying, Jehovah you are 'Io."