Na Akua Hawaii – Hawaiian Gods
Hawaiians are a deeply spiritual people. his inspiration and manna (spiritual power, energy, and life force) come from the powerful forces of your natural world. This world was huge. It extended beyond the eight main Hawaiian Islands and included Kahiki, Aotearoa, Te Pito o te Henua and everything in between. It spanned the width of the largest ocean on earth and included a sea of stars in an endless night sky. Based on the enormity of their world, it’s no wonder why the ancient Hawaiians were polytheistic.
There are over 400,000 different recognized gods in Hawaiian culture. These include the main deities, demigods, ‘aumakua (ancestral gods), let alone akua (Gods). Each had their own sphere of influence over some aspect of Hawaiian society. In this pantheon of akua were the ones who had the greatest kuleana (responsibilities) such as war or politics and others with less important roles. Not all akua hawaiiYo (Hawaiian gods) were worshiped by each individual. The gods varied from place to place and from island to island. The gods also differed depending on a person’s area of expertise, for example, a canoe maker would not necessarily pray to the gods of hula Hula (dance) for support and vice versa. However, there were some deities and spiritual beliefs that all Hawaiians adhered to regardless of status or class.
Listed below are the major gods known collectively as Ka ha (bed. all four) who influenced every aspect of the Hawaiian world. They were equally revered among all the islands in ancient times and are recognized throughout Polynesia as some of the most powerful gods in Oceania.
In this list, readers will find the common name of each god, along with their sphere of influence. Also included are some of the main cinema belonging to each akua. kinolau literally means “many forms”. They are the physical manifestations of a akua and although they often take the form of a plant or an animal, cinema They are not just limited to flora and fauna.
Common name:
ku
Other names:
Kunuiakea, Kuka’ilimoku.
God of:
War, politics, wizardry, farming, fishing, bird hunting, canoe building.
Kinolau:
‘Ie’ie, ‘Ohi’a Lehua, Loulu, ‘Ulu, Niu, Pueo, Mano, ‘Io, Niuhi, ‘Ilio, Koa.
Common name:
only
Other names:
Lonoikaouali’i, Lonoikamakahiki.
God of:
Peace, fertility, agriculture, prosperity, sports, healing (herbal medicine), making love.
Kinolau:
Pua’a, Kukui, Hapu’u, Ipu, Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, ‘Ama’ama, ‘Ohua Palemo, thunder, clouds, lightning, rain.
Common name:
kane
Other names:
Kanenuiakea.
God of:
Fresh water, life, procreation, canoe builders, increase of ‘o’opu, healing.
Kinolau:
Wai, ‘Ohe, Ko, La’i, Wauke, Kalo, woods, sunrise.
Common name:
Kanaloa
Other names:
N/A
God of:
Deep ocean, ocean winds, fishing, travel, healing.
Kinolau:
Ocean, Mai’a, Muhe’e, He’e, ocean winds, sunset.