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HA'AKOA
WEBSITE & DEFINITIONS
The following information is provided to optimize your learning and understanding of the material covered on this website.
Website:
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We mahalo Kūkulu Cultural Optimization for their technical skills, cultural competence, and support in creating and maintaining the Haʻakoa website.
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The shimmering water background found on this website represents Waiʻōhinu, a village and ahupuaʻa at the southernmost part of Kaʻu, Moku o Keawe (Island of Hawaiʻi). Waiʻōhinu means “shiny water” and is so named for the body fluids from slain warriors who battled anciently in this area and whose bodies fell into streams causing the surface of the water to shimmer in the sun and moonlight. Waiʻōhinu is the ancestral home of the founders of ʻAhahui Haʻakoa.
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The symbols of ʻAhahui Haʻakoa featured on this website include a water pattern representing Waiʻōhinu (shiny water) and images of Kū, the ancient Hawaiian god of war, politics, fishing, and farming. The manifestation of Kū as a god of war is Kūkāʻilimoku. The most revered and feared feather image of Kūkāʻilimoku was held by Kalaniʻōpuʻu, aliʻi nui of Moku o Keawe, who lived in Kaʻu. When Kalaniʻōpuʻu passed, he left his war god to Kamehameha the Great, which in part gave him the authority and mana to unite the Hawaiian Islands. The founders of ʻAhahui Haʻakoa are direct descendants (nine generations) to Kalaniʻōpuʻu.
Definitions:
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Cultural Competence - Refers to Native Hawaiian cultural competence i.e., uniquely Hawaiian in look, feel, sight, smell, sound, and ʻike (Hawaiian perspective of awareness, knowledge, understanding, and comprehension).
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Haʻa - Haʻa is not a particular dance, but refers to a style of dance that is done with bent knees.
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Haʻakoa - Haʻakoa is not a particular dance, but refers to a style of dance that is done with bent knees and is warrior in nature.
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Haʻakoa Eia Hawaiʻi - Haʻakoa Eia Hawaiʻi is a particular dance in the Haʻakoa style. The words are from a 12th century mele. The motions include Lua, Haʻa, and Hula, that may be hundreds if not thousands of years old.
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Today’s Innovations, Tomorrow's Tradition’s - Refers to cultural protocols created today that in time (2-3 generations) may be recognized as cultural traditions.
(More definitions to be added)
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