Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 4, 1 April 1998 — Honoring traditions [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Honoring traditions

By Claire Hughes, N u t r i t i o n ls t , Hawal'l Department Of Health ĪRADITIONAL FOODS s provided the spiritual connection when new life was celebrated, preparing the way for the child in old Hawai'i. Ourancestors held the first ceremony within 24 hours of birth. This was particularly important for the hiapo, the ftrst born, to safeguard and protect the child. The māwaewae ceremo- J ny blessed the eldest child and all children | that would follow from the new mother. I It cleared the way and dedicated the child * to the 'aumākua, the ancestors, setting the | child's feet, wāwae, on the path of the spiritual flow, mana, of his elders and parents.

Only the immediate family took part in the māwaewae, whieh sealed the relationship of the hiapo and all subsequent children with Lono, the akua of rain, agriculture and peaee, and thus, subsistence, livelihood and abundance, whieh was of foremost importance in the agricultural life of Hawaiians. Significant foods were gathered. From the oeean, either mullet or āholehole. Both were called pua'a kai or "sea pigs" and represented Kamapua'a and Lono. From the land, a kalo leaf, the plant form of Lono - probably sacred to Lono, such as ipu o Lono. All three kinolau of Lono had to be offered and eaten; the land animal pua'a, the sea form and the plant form. Other seafood was also important to clear

the way for the child. Shrimp, limu kala and 'a'ama crab, to safeguard the child from malicious influences and prevent bad behavior and bad luek. The kuapa'a mollusc, 'au'a meaning "to hold fast," to secure firmly through the mother and all others who ate it, the goodness in their hearts. Tiny bits of eaeh food were eaten by the new mother, symbolizing consumption of the entire hog, whole bundles of kalo tops and all the seafood. Even though there was no ritual or offering to the gods, the feeling of eating and communing with them prevailed during . feasts and ordinary meals of old Hawai'i. Their presence was felt during the meal and our ancestors believed the gods were more receptive to requests for help and forgiveness in the presence of the foods whieh represent their kinolau. Hawaiians feasted among themselves and with their gods on such occasions as the birth of the hiapo, the first birthday and when a young person finished making his first net or caught his first fish, wove the first mat or made the first pieee of kapa. Eating with the gods required appropriate table conduct and conversation. A general atmosphere of gratitude and respect pre- I vailed when families gathered to share food with one another, their 'aumākua and the gods. Children showed respect for the elders by minding their manners; arguing or fighting was never tolerated at meal time. , A tradition we continue today is the first year feast or first birthday. In ancient times, this event was pālala during whieh the aloha of all the relatives and ffiends was expressed, and in the case of an ali'i, of all the people. Aloha was offered in the form of gifts, chants and hula that were given to the child. The feast was enjoyed by all who eame to honor the hiapo, and the festivities could last for four days. In the old days, fishermen brought fish and seafood, farmers brought vegetables, weavers brought mats and kapa makers brought kapa. Today's birthday lū'au eontinues the tradition of the pālala, but the aloha spirit has changed. In the 1990s we are mueh more materialistic with regard to gifts and party foods. ■ j 1

Even though there was no ritual or offering to the gods, the feeling of eating and eommuning with them prevailed during feasts and ordinary meals of old Hawai'i. — Claire Hughes

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