By: Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, Century 21 Liberty Homes, Mililani, HI 96789 (Localism.com Featured Article)
HAWAIIAN Spirits and Superstitions covered only a sliver of our Spirits and Superstions in Hawaii. Remember I mentioned that we had our home blessed because our home was in the path of the warriors marching? We will now embark on one Hawaiian legend, ....The Nightmarchers.
The Nightmarchers are the ghosts of ancient Hawaiian high ranking warriors. They say that they come forth during the night from their burial sites to march where they battled or march on to other sacred areas. It is said that if you live near their path of marching you will see their torches or hear the chanting, the marching and/or the drums beating faintly. Place ti plants or leaves around your house to keep away evil spirits and the "nightmarchers" to avoid the area as well. The most famous of these "marching" paths of the Nightmarcher's is along the Pali where Kamehameha fought the last battle.
In Hawaii, the Menehune, are "little people" that stand two feet high. Similar to pixi's or trolls the Menehune roam the deep forests at night. They are very strong and are master builders and said to accomplish many projects over night! There are many stories how they came to be in Hawaii. One version is that they were the first settlers in Hawaii that came from the descendants of the Marquesas Islanders and resided here between the years of 0-350 A.D. Supposedly, the "bigger people" from Tahiti came and the Menehune ran off into the caves in mountains and only came out at night for food.
My mother was born and raised on Kauai with her 7 sisters and 1 brother. Later on, one of my Auntie's married and moved to Waimea Kauai. When my cousin and I were 10 and 11 our mom's would let us go to Kauai to visit my Aunt and Uncle for the summer. She lived right on Menehune Road and at the end of the road was the "Menehune Ditch". The high chief of Waimea, "Ola" received aid from the Menehune to divert water from the Waimea River to their taro patches and supposedly made this ancient acqueduct overnight!
Anyway, my cousin claimed she must be a Menehune as well because she was very short and tried to go in the passageway in the Menehune Ditch in the mountain......I ran away afraid that something might happen! (The opening is in the picture to the right)
The following subject on Tiki Gods is dedicated to Neal Bloom...who has only seen something about this on the Brady Bunch......Here ya go bud!
The Tiki Gods
Ku: (God of War) Husband of Hina in Hawaiian mythology. Ku means standing upright. Hina means falling down. Maybe that meant they were a balanced couple? Ku worshipped with human sacrifice which was not the case with the other of these main tiki gods.
Lono: (God of Fertility and Peace) Lono decended to Earth on a rainbow to marry Laka and existed with the three other gods before the world was created. Lono is identified with rain and food plants and god of peace. I think they all balance each other out in one way or another.
Kane (God of light and life) and he created the sky, the earth and the upper heaven and he owned a seashell when placed on the ocean turned into a huge sailboat. Kane is identified with the sun in agricultural conditions. "Kan-e" means man and was the heavenly father of all men. The father of all living things and nature.
Kanaloa (God of the Sea) and symbolized by the squid and called upon to for the building of the canoe. Kanaloa was also called upon to to point out hidden springs. This god was considered the evil one opposing Kane (the good one) In this respect it is the wild and taming forces such as the popular Yin-Yang and supposedly this idea came from the European missionaires trying to show the Christian/Satan images.
Thanks for joining me once again for a little more insight into "About Hawaii"!
If you are interested in more "About Hawaii" stories please click on any of the following links:
Points of Interest and Entertainment in Hawaii - Part 1
Preservation of Hawaiian Culture, Land and History (localism.com featured)
Preservation AND Development for Ka'u, Hawaii?
Hawaiian "Ono" Entrees, Sides and a Luau?
Hawaii Photo Post and Virtual Tours!
HAWAIIAN Spirits and Superstitions (localism.com featured)
What Makes a House a Home in Honolulu, Hawaii? (localism.com featured)
Blogging about "VOG" in Hawaii
Visitor and Newcomer Safety Tips for Hawaii!
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