Hawaii in the Ancient World
Hawaii in the Ancient World was shaped by the migration of Polynesians who, around 450 CE, arrived from the Micronesian Marshall Islands, followed by a second wave from the Marquesas between the 11th and 13th centuries. This settlement occurred in relative isolation, making the Hawaiian Islands among the last places on Earth to be populated by humans. The original inhabitants, known as the Menehune, practiced subsistence agriculture and were organized into a social hierarchy, with a ruling class that exerted control over the commoners. They established a structured system of laws and taboos to maintain their authority and protect their privileges.
Religious beliefs were integral to ancient Hawaiian culture, centered around a supreme being and multiple gods, each overseeing different aspects of life. Temples made of lava rock were constructed for worship, and wooden idols were carved to safeguard agricultural and fishing activities. The political system was marked by power struggles following the death of a king, often leading to conflicts among chiefs who would then redistribute land among their supporters. This complex society highlighted the interplay between governance, religion, and social structure, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of ancient Hawaii.
On this Page
Hawaii in the Ancient World
Date: probably colonized fifth century c.e.
Locale: North central Pacific Ocean Islands
Hawaii in the Ancient World
Because of conflicts with the Malay peoples, Polynesians living on the Indonesian archipelago migrated in small groups eastward into the Pacific Ocean, using their knowledge of seacraft derived from single-outrigger voyages in the Indonesian archipelago. They followed a northern and southern route, but on both routes, they encountered resistance from the indigenous peoples and were forced to migrate farther east until they located unoccupied lands. The northern route took the Polynesians through the Philippines and Micronesia. Two accounts claim that the first Polynesians reached the Hawaiian Islands from the Marshall Islands in Micronesia, perhaps by the year 450 c.e. The southern route took the Polynesians past New Guinea through Melanesia to Fiji and on to Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti. The second wave of Polynesians sailed to Hawaii from the Marquesas, which are part of Tahiti, from the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries. The Hawaiian Islands were among the last places on earth to receive humans for settlement, and they were isolated from contact outside Polynesia for about a thousand years.
The original peoples of Hawaii, known as Menehune, engaged in subsistence agriculture. The stronger men established political dominance, exacting food as tribute from the commoners. Warriors were able to carry spears that were thirty feet (about nine meters) in length. The ruling classes reportedly were lazy and often cruel, insisting that the commoners pay homage to them. Below the commoners were slaves, who had been captured in warfare; they performed the most menial tasks. Land was the property of the king of each island and was divided among the chiefs, who were in charge of districts of each island.
The ruling classes established a rigid system of laws (taboos) to protect the lives, property, and dignity of the chiefs and the priests. The chiefs and priests exclusively used certain places to live, fish, bathe, and drink water, and they wore distinctive decorative clothing. The Hawaiians believed in a supreme being, but four gods were in charge of various aspects of the earth, and each in turn was in charge of four lesser gods. Temples of lava rock were erected on hilltops and on seacoasts. Idols of gods were carved from trees to watch over the places where commoners engaged in agriculture, fishing, weaving, and other economic activities.
When the king of each island died, often a war of succession occurred among the chiefs. The winner would then redivide the land among newly appointed followers, who were appointed as the new chiefs. The king’s main adviser was an older man with experience in governance and warfare. Tax collectors collected levies once each year in the form of feathers, food, and cloth during festivals.
Bibliography
Handy, E. S. Craighill, et al. Ancient Hawaiian Civilization. Rev. ed. Rutland, Vt.: Tuttle, 1970.
Kirch, Patrick Vinton. Feathered Gods and Fishhooks: An Introduction to Hawaiian Archaeology and Prehistory. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1997.
Wyndette, Olive. Islands of Destiny: A History of Hawaii. Rutland, Vt.: Tuttle, 1968.