Introduction- Hawaiian Myths
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Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to:
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Introduction
The state of Hawaii has a rich and fascinating history. The first settlers onto the islands were ancient Polynesians who daringly followed the oceanic flight paths of birds to find the string of islands. These Polynesians traveled long distances across the vast ocean in double hulled canoes. Once on land, they settled into villages and enjoyed the islands' vast abundance of crops and animals.
Because the people were so isolated from other countries and other populations, the Hawaiian people developed a culture and religion all their own.
The Hawaiians worshiped many gods, and created elaborate sculptures of these gods using wood and clay. The sculptures are called tiki gods, and they were prominent in ancient Hawaii. The islanders would carve large poles into frightening monsters that could be strategically placed to stand tall and ward off evil spirits and unwelcome invaders. Families would have several tiki gods created for their homes in an effort to please the god in hopes that blessings would soon follow.
The Hawaiians also created strange tales and legends that held special meaning to the villagers. These tales often centered on one or more gods who had conflict with a citizen of the island. The tales would feature several events that rose to a climax where the god and the human would battle. The resolution of the legend would include a warning or a clear consequence that all villagers should respect if they wanted the continued blessing of the god.
They sound a bit complicated, but in reality, the Hawaiian myths follow the same pattern as a short story. There is a conflict that pits two characters against each other. The myth will have events of rising action that culminate in a climatic event resulting in a resolution.
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