Ku War God: Hawaii after the Kona period

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Recommended: Tradition and religion in Hawaii

On the big island of Hawaii lays many secrets of traditional Hawaii that have long been forgotten by the republic that took over Hawaii after the Kona period. But many people still live up to these traditions in their homes and not wanting to overlook where their original family had come from. These traditions are based on stories and prayers that respect the primary four gods that make up the world. These gods help the people of Hawaii in succeeding the best out of life and honor them in returning them appraisal. One of these four gods is Ku, the God of war. He is the most fearful and brutal God that conspired war and violence. Many strong leaders worshipped him in hopes of bringing them glory and succeeding in war. One leader built a temple dedicated to Ku in hopes of uniting all of the Hawaiian Islands. On this temple stood a sculpture that would hold the spirit of the god called Kuka-ili-moku the war god figure. This 9 foot tall wooden sculpture is from Hawai’i and was probably created around AD 1790-1810. It is currently held in the British Museum in London. It is one out of many ti’i figures coming from the Polynesian islands. These ti’i figures are fairly common among Hawai’i islands and are believed that ancestor and godly spirits consume in them. Kuka-ili-moku the war god figure helps influence the people of Hawaii based on its structural body, it’s legend and story.
Kukailimoku is one of many different types of ti’i and they all have many different symbols that represent that specific god. There are many different types of these Ti’i figures in Hawaii and all of Polynesia. In Hawaiian culture, the gods, the aina; land, and the kanaka; people, all share a “symbiotic existence.” If the Kanaka took care of the land in a p...

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...Honolulu: University Press of Hawaii, 1974.

"Figure of the war god Ku-ka'ili-moku." British Museum. http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aoa/f/figure_of_the_war_god_ku-kaili.aspx.

"Gods and Myths of Hawaii." Hawai`i Resource Library. http://www.donch.com/lulh/gm.htm.

Kaeppler, Adrienne Lois, Christian Kaufmann, and Douglas Newton. Oceanic art. English language ed. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1997.

Thomas, Nicholas. Oceanic art. New York, N.Y.: Thames and Hudson, 1995.

National Parks Service. "A Cultural History of Three Traditional Hawaiian Sites on the West Coast of Hawai'i Island." National Parks Service. http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/kona/history7a.htm.

Fullard-Leo, Betty . "In the Beginning - Hawaiian Gods and Their Roles in Society." Paul Waters. http://www.paulwaters.com/gods.htm (accessed November 23, 2013).

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