Ancient Hawaii Introduction to the History of the Hawaiian Kingdom Part 1: Migration and the Caste System.

Ancient Hawaii

Introduction to the History of the Hawaiian Kingdom Part 1:

Migration and the Caste System

Migration to Hawaii• It is believed that the first Polynesians arrived in

Hawai‘i in the 7th century from Tahiti and/or the Marquesas.

• They brought along with them clothing, plants and livestock and established settlements along the coasts and larger valleys.

• They grew kalo (taro), mai‘a (banana), niu (coconut), and ulu (breadfruit) as soon as they arrived, and built hale (homes) and heiau (temples).

The Kalo Plant

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The Ulu or Breadfruit

"Global Breadfruit | Food Security for a Growing World." Global Breadfruit. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2015.

Heiau or Temples

What we see of Heiau’s Today

What we see of Heiau’s Today

Migration to Hawaii. How?• By way of the Ocean.• Polynesians were skilled ocean

navigators and mastered astronomic sciences long before most westerners understood it.

• Polynesians used the stars, birds, the wind, and the ocean currents to navigate to their destinations.

Caste System• Ancient Hawai‘i was a caste society. People were

born into specific social classes and did not have the ability to move into another. Each class had assigned duties and responsibilities to the greater society. The classes in order of social status were:

1. Ali‘i- “the royal class.”– This class consisted of the high and lesser chiefs of

the realms.– They governed with divine power, presumably power

from mana.

Caste System

2. Kahuna- “the priestly class.”– This class consisted of the priesthood

that tended the temples and conducted religious activities in the villages.

– Also, scientists and exceptional navigators were deemed to have kahuna status.

Caste System

3. Maka‘ainana- “the commoner class.”

- This class consisted of the farmers, fishermen, craftsmen and their families.

- People that worked the land(Ahupua’a) for their Ali’i.

Maka’ainana and the Ahupua’a

Caste System

4. Outcast- the slave class. - These were prisoners

captured in times of feudal war and forced to serve the ali‘i.