Hawaiian Creationism: Fact, Fiction, or Legend?

By Karyn Chambers

As a world traditions/religions teacher and philosopher, I am intrigued by the stories of how our planet and humanity began.  How did we get here and who created us? We commonly see in this third dimensional world plants, animals, insects, and humans have a beginning and an end. Our world traditions attempt to answer those questions through mythological stories. The Judeo-Christian religion has its own version of a creation narrative, accepted as truth around the world. However, our indigenous traditions have their own variations of gods and goddesses responsible for humanity’s origins. These ancient people handed down their stories orally; the shaman/priests were the record-keepers, visionaries, and intermediaries between the gods and humans, communicating with the spirit realm. 

The Hawaiians, like other native people, are animistic, meaning they see everything in nature as alive and possessing a spirit—to be revered and treated as holy/sacred. Hawaiians were also polytheistic, honoring several gods who served different purposes for the health and wellbeing of the people. According to Serge Kahili King, the Hawaiians had more than one religion and a variety of creation stories. In the beginning, there was only darkness and an invisible intelligence and the earth and planets formed within this darkness. He says that Wakea (sky father and god of light) and Papa (earth mother and goddess of the underworld) were human-like creators–the first parents and gave birth to the islands. In Hawaiian history, they were creators of the earth and sky, creating a universe of opposites–light and darkness. They had a daughter, Ho’ohokukalani, meaning “creator of the stars.” Wakea mated with his daughter and gave birth to Kalo, born prematurely and buried in the ground, becoming the Taro plant. These stories were recorded in the Kumulipo chant revealing how everything is connected, and it’s the kuleana of the younger generation to care for the older folks and the natural world.

In the chant, the oceans came first, then dry land, and all creatures born in the sea were partners to those on the land. Humans arrived last and a partner to protect the land and all living things. Maui–a demigod–created the other islands and natural phenomena. The respected Hawaiian historian scholar Martha Beckwith in Hawaiian Mythology also affirms this account. Beckwith states, “Wakea, from whom come the ali’i, Hawaiian chiefs, symbolizes the sky from which the sunlight and rain come to fertilize the earth.” Interestingly, Papa means “flat surface,” the top layer of the earth where fertilized seeds brought forth the calabash gourd, used as a bowl and cover. Beckwith says Wakea tosses up the cover and creates the sky as well as seeds that became the stars, with the white interior of the gourd becoming the moon, the ripe meat, the clouds and rain. These stories illustrate the need for stewardship of the land and the teaching that if humans care for the land/the aina, it will care for them.

The Aumakua: Family Guardians

Beckwith asserts that Hawaiians worshipped nature gods who played an important role in everyday affairs. The gods (akua) may also be the aumakua or guardian god of a family. The gods (chiefs) live in faraway lands/the heavens and visit humans. Major gods worshipped throughout Polynesia were Ku, Kane, Lono, and Kanaloa. They were revered in their chants and known by their natural phenomena such as colors, smells, clouds, rainbows, storms or bird songs. Some scholars believe these gods were human chiefs with superior gifts later elevated to godlike stature. Like ancient India, Hawaii too had a caste system–chiefs/priests, commoners, and slaves. Each chief represented a family group recognizing a divine ancestor, the oldest male inheriting land ownership.

Ku and Hina, husband and wife, were the earliest gods of the people, prayed to by the fish men. Then Kane and Kanaloa arrived around the time of Maui, with Lono coming last and starting the games of the Mahahiki, the New Year’s Festival. Kane and wahine, the great ancestral gods over the generations of mankind, lived on the earth. Hina means “leaning down” and Ku, “the rising of the sun.” Kahunas prayed to Ku and Hina during times of sickness and the need for protection. They were gods who protect the people and their children. Ku, the upright male, (pohakuis-o-Kane) is represented by a standing stone. Hina (papa-o-Hina) a flat, rounded stone. Ku was worshipped to produce crops, good fishing, a long life, and a healthy family, as well as national prosperity. Ku is worshiped not only by chiefs, but by those whose professions required them to gather herbs in the forest and wild foods during times of scarcity. Hina, the female goddess of the ohia-lehua sacred forest, is revered as the mother and protector of the voyager.

Hale Makua: Record-Keeper and Great Kahuna

Beloved Hale Makua, a great kahuna, who lived in Kapoho, memorized hundreds of historical chants as a child. He says these holy chants go back to the Tahitian people who descended from the Egyptians and traveled to Polynesia, going all the way back to Tibet. The story of human migrations goes back tens of thousands of years. He claims the first beings traveled to earth from the Pleiades in sky canoes and had supernatural powers to fly above the clouds and under the oceans. Makua states, “We actually come into this world as a god. It’s just that we have forgotten who we really are as well as what our objectives for this life really are.” He says that his ancestor Kamehameha Nui dedicated his heiau (temple) to Ku and maintained domination over the earth. Akua means “life originating from a high place.” Ku, according to Makua, is connected to warfare and soldiers as well as a protector/defender. Ku means “arising” or “standing up.” Lono, Makua states, was actually a human with red hair, known in some places as Rono, and a warrior. Apparently, he killed his enemies and ate them. However, as he transformed through mystical experiences, he became a renowned healer who helped Pele keep her fire. He traveled the globe and went to Mexico and even Maine, where the people thought he was a Viking because of his light skin and red hair. Makua says that people lived in the Hawaiian islands twelve thousand years ago, and he was the ancestor of Lono, the bringer of rain and the god of healing herbs. 

Makua also shares that Kanaloa is “the ancient progenitor and sustainer of life in the outer tradition.” He is associated with harmony and balance–bringer of enlightenment. Amazingly, he also says Kanaloa and the Buddha are the same being. Makua asserts dolphins were the first to come from Sirius and the last were the whales, the record-keepers; the whales and dolphins, the guardians accompanying humans across the universe. According to Makua, the dolphins and whales–high guardians–bless humanity with the knowledge of our purpose and destiny. “Dolphins represent Haloa, Divine fire and breath of life.” They were the first to arrive here from Sirius. Makua said he remembers coming to earth in celestial canoes made of light thousands of years ago. Such magnificent holy creators deserving of our reverence.

Judge Abraham Fornander and Max Freedom Long

During the time of the missionaries, it is believed by some scholars, the creation stories were influenced by Biblical narratives, which were translated into the Hawaiian language. A prominent historian/scholar was Judge Abraham Fornander, who migrated from Sweden to the Hawaiian islands in 1843-1887. He was a whaler, coffee grower, surveyor, publisher, editor, journalist, judge, and general of education. Quite a list of credentials. He was a prominent advocate of Hawaiian oral teachings and history, putting together a phenomenal body of work that includes Hawaiian prayers, legends, and genealogies. He identifies Kane, Ku, and Lono as “Sunlight, Substance, and Sound,” a trinity of deities that existed throughout eternity–”mai ka po mia”–night, darkness, chaos before the light entered, the heavens where they lived and the earth as the footstool. They created the moon, stars, and the angels that served them. The first man was created from red dirt and the spit of the gods. Kane breathed into his nose, and he became a living being. Then later, while he slept, he took a rib and fashioned the first woman. Sound familiar? The first man was called Kumuhonua and the first woman–Keolakuhonua. Kane also created animals–hogs, dogs, and reptiles. In one legend, apparently Kane destroyed the world by fire because of the wickedness of the first people. In the Polynesian tale, breadfruit was forbidden and a sacred apple was believed to cause death to the first couple. Additionally, a myriad of angels rebelled due to not being allowed to be worshipped. A wicked chief was cast down to earth. A pit of fire where Kanaloa, personified evil, dwells. They also have a flood story with “Nuu” or “Nana-nuu,” a Noah-like character who is preserved along with his descendents. He had three sons “Nalu-akea, Nalu-hoo-hua, and Nalu-mana-mana. Kane came down as a rainbow and later introduced circumcision. Quite a striking similarity to the Hebrew Bible stories. 

Judge Fornander alleges two theories for these remarkable resemblances of the stories. He claims that when the Spanish and Portuguese were shipwrecked; they shared their biblical knowledge with the native people of Polynesia and Malaysia. The second hypothesis is that the lost tribes of Israel scattered and mixed with the islander people and spread their stories. There’s a Marquesan story of human victims who had eaten red apples that explains death, wars, famine, and pestilence. As a result, humans had to be sacrificed to atone for the eating of tabooed fruit.  

An essential source on this topic is Max Freedom Long’s “The Huna Code”, where he sheds light on Huna, which means secrets. The ancient Hawaiian secret teachings came from Egypt, the Israelites, and the Buddhists. He skillfully weaves together how the language reveals the common root of the teachings. He defines the Aumakua as an “utterly Trustworthy Parental Pair.” He claims the Huna teachings can be found in the Vedas and ancient India. The secrets can be discovered in the hidden meanings of the words; the High self is revealed as the Heavenly Father and the united male and female make up the “One,” wise being we can communicate with. I highly recommend his The Huna Code for an in-depth study of the common links between Huna, Egypt, Israel, and Buddhism. Impressive body of research.

This revelation is a synopsis of the Hawaiian creation stories. Indeed, it’s a vast study where many sacred stories have been shared. It’s intriguing that male and female counterparts are necessary to create life as seen in the divine couples. We see with the pantheon of Polynesian deities that they appear humanlike, with supernatural qualities and abilities. Did these beings migrate to earth from the Pleiades or Sirius, the dog star, or elsewhere in the cosmos? If so, it calls into question the biblical narrative of a Supreme Creator who deserves and expects worship. However, if we were seeded by beings from other star systems, what might that mean for humanity? I find the best source for the Hawaiian genealogies and mythical stories to be Hale Makua who memorized thousands of ancient chants and visited other realms of existence according to his testimony in The Bowl of Light.  Clearly, Martha Beckwith and Judge Abraham Fornander are notable sources for early Hawaiian history after Christian missionaries arrived. It’s fascinating how Fornander and Beckwith echo biblical stories with Hawaiian names. Who influenced who? 

Definitely check out the scholarly work we have available. Hawaiian mythologies and chants offer a fascinating study and wealth of information. This is where I’d love to sit at the feet of wise Hawaiian kahunas and listen to their ancient stories. Perhaps they are the most trusted resources of Truth in how humanity came to live on this beautiful planet. 

References

The Bowl of Light: Ancestral Wisdom from a Hawaiian Shaman. Hank Wesselmen.

Ancient History of the Hawaiian People. Abraham Fornander.

Mastering Your Hidden Self: A Guide to the Huna Way. Serge Kahili King.

Myths and Legends of Hawaii. William D. Westervelt.

Hawaiian Mythology. Martha Beckwith.

Hawaiian Folk Tales. Thos. G. Thrum

The Huna Code. Max Freedom Long.