Culture and

Conservation
Webinar Series

Dr. Sam Ohu Gon III

Senior Scientist & Cultural
Advisor
The Nature Conservancy of
Hawaii
PUKAKNAKEIKI,HE,LELE
HawaiianCulturalSignificance
ofOurNativeForestBirds

Dr. Sam Ohu Gon III

The Nature Conservancy of
Hawaii
N Waa Llani Khuna o Puu
 TheKumulipo

Hawaiian creation chant

thousands of lines long
birds dominate early
precede the gods
Hnau ka hualua, ka makua
Puka kna keiki, he manu, lele
Born is the hualua banana, the parent; its offspring, a bird, appears, and
flies
Hnau ka lili, ka makua
Puka kna keiki, he klea, lele
Born is the tattler, the parent; its offspring, a plover, hatches, and flies
Hnau ka mamo, ka makua
Puka kna keiki, he , lele
Born is the mamo, the parent; its offspring, a , hatches, and flies
 Cultural Significance

Material Living Forms Traditional

Culture of Deities Knowledge
 Kinolau
a physical manifestation of a deity
(akua)
each akua associated with particular
species
The Four Major Hawaiian
Akua
K
Leadership, Warfare, Rigor, Permanence
Hot summer season (Kauwela)

Lono
Peace, Dependence, Relaxation, Transience
Cool winter season (Hooilo)

Kne
Freshwater, Healing, Light, Life

Kanaloa
Seawater, Depth, Death
 LONO K

KANALOA KNE
 LONO K

KANALOA KNE

?
 K

Hawaiian hawk - io Hawaiian owl

- pueo
 K

Hawaii (Moho nobilis) Iiwi (Vestiaria coccinea)

LONO
KNE
LEA
 Cultural Significance

Material Living Forms Traditional

Culture of Deities Knowledge
Birds of Featherwork
Extinction of Hawaiian
Forest Birds

destruction of lowland
habitat
by Western land use
(deforestation, ranching,
sugarcane) 1779 >
mosquitoes introduced
(1826)
non-native birds (1800s)
bird pox virus (1800s)
bird malaria (early 1900s)
 wao akua

wao kanaka
Bird bones in tattoo
implements
 Cultural Significance

Material Living Forms Traditional

Culture of Deities Knowledge
 Birds in Moolelo

Lieikawai Hiiakaikapoliopel
e
 Birds in Moolelo

Kapoi &
Kkauakahi
An Oahu moolelo
from the time of
the chief
Kakuhihewa (450
y.a.)

Lieikawai
Birds in Oli (Chant)
 Oli Hoonaauao
E io e, e io e, e k, e manu e
O Io, o hawk, stop, o bird
Ke alu aku nei ka pule i Hakalau
Combining the prayers toward Hakalau
Kulia ka lani i Uli, i namu, i naue
The chief strives toward Uli, mumbling, trembling
Ka nehe i luna, ka nehe i lalo
Rustling above, rustling below
Kaa kau, kaa hema
Rolling northward, rolling south
Oli Hoonaauao

K makani, hai ka lani

The wind rises, the heavens break
Hekili kaakaa i ka lani
Thunder rolling in the heavens
Ka uila nui mkh i ka lani
Great lightning flashing in the heavens
Pane i ka lani, e ola ke kanaka
Reply to the chief, to bring life to the people
H mai ka loea, ka ike, ka mana
Confer skill, knowledge, spiritual power
Oli Hoonaauao

I ae ka honua la
That the world continue
O waha lau alii
The many chiefly mouths
O kahi i waiho ai ka hualelo
The place where the word is presented
Elieli kau mai
Great awe settles in
mama, ua noa
Completed, kapu is lifted
 Birds in Mele (Song)

IpoLeiManu
Amelealoha(lovesong)
byKapiolaniforKalkaua

Hemanao,healoha
nokaipoleimanu

Athought,alovingthought
fortheloverwreathedinbirds
 Birds in Mele (Song)

IpoLeiManu
Amelealoha(lovesong)
byKapiolaniforKalkaua

Ahemanukuuhoa
nohomaiikanahele

Mydearcompanionisabird
thatresidesintheforest
 Birds in Mele (Song)

IpoLeiManu
Amelealoha(lovesong)
byKapiolaniforKalkaua

Iiwiaouka
plenaikaua

Aniiwioftheuplands
moistenedbytherain
 Birds in Mele (Song)

IpoLeiManu
Amelealoha(lovesong)
byKapiolaniforKalkaua

Hainakapuana
nokalaniheleloa

Therefrainistold
forthefartravelingchief
Birds in lelo Noeau

Kahakaioikamlie

Thehawkstandsoutagainstthecalmsky
 Birds in lelo Noeau

Amakihi Sourpuss
awaawa amakihi
Birds in lelo Noeau
Birds in lelo Noeau

Hookoloakuikanuimanu
Goandaskalltheotherbirds
 Hawaiian Forest Birds

take pride in the symbol of abundance that

was inherent in the amazing featherwork
that was manifest in traditional times
view the sacred nature of our forest birds
as embodiments of the gods of the wao akua
appreciate the roles that birds played in
our storied places and epic tales
recognize our birds as cultural
treasures as well as amazing expressions of
island evolution
Mahalo!