LESSON 11.5 What was life like in Hawai’i?
LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson you should be able to: • explain the Hawaiians’ connection to and understanding of the land and sea • describe the relationships between the islands and reflect on roles and positions in Hawaiian society.
Tune in The H̄ok̄ule‘a is a replica vessel based on ancient wa‘a kaulua , double-hulled canoes designed to sail the open seas. Write a list of questions you would research to learn more about this vessel, including how it was made, how long the journey took and how many people were onboard. Calculate the distance from Honolulu to Papa‘ete and discuss whether you would be prepared to sail that far in a vessel of this sort.
SOURCE1 The H̄ok̄ule‘a arriving in Honolulu, Hawai’i after sailing from Pape‘ete, Tahiti, in 1976
11.5.1 Settlement Hawai’i is a volcanic archipelago at the north of the Polynesian Triangle. There are many theories as to how Polynesian peoples found and settled this remote and unique space. One is that the first waka arrived around 900–1200 CE from the Marquesas; later, around 1300 CE, people from Otaheite (Tahiti) travelled along the same route and conquered the original inhabitants. These dates have been debated for several years and will likely be revised as new evidence is found. 11.5.2 The H̄ok̄ule‘a In 1976, modern Polynesian sailors re-created a thousand-year-old voyage between Hawai’i and Tahiti on a double-hulled canoe called the H̄ok̄ule’a . They sailed 10 000 kilometres using ancient navigation methods taught by a Micronesian navigator, proving that early Polynesians intentionally travelled vast distances across the Pacific. The H̄ok̄ule’a , meaning ‘star of gladness’, showed the impressive seafaring skills of ancient Polynesians. 11.5.3 The K̄anaka Maoli By the time that European explorer Captain James Cook arrived in 1778, all of the islands of Hawai’i were established as a kingdom, with an ali’i nui (supreme ruler), ali’i (nobles) and kahuna (high priest) just below the supreme ruler, and the maka’̄ainana (commoners) performing the common tasks of the land. These people were set in their social position through a rigid caste system and referred to themselves as the K̄anaka Maoli, or ‘people of the land’. This hierarchy meant that some people had very few rights
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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