Kinolau literally means “many forms.” They are the physical manifestations of an akua and even though they often take the form of a plant or animal, kinolau are not limited to only flora and fauna. Hawaiians are a deeply spiritual people. Their inspiration and mana (spiritual power, energy, and life force) come from the powerful forces of their natural world. This world was immense. It stretched beyond the eight main Hawaiian Islands and encompassed Kahiki, Aōtearoa, Te Pito o te Henua and everything in-between. It spanned the breadth of earth’s largest ocean and included a sea of stars in an endless night sky. Based on the enormity of their world, it is no wonder why ancient Hawaiians were polytheistic. There are over 400,000 different gods recognized in Hawaiian culture. These include the principal deities, demi-gods, ʻaumakua (ancestral gods), and many lesser akua (gods). Each had their own realm of influence over some aspect of Hawaiian society. In this pantheon of akua were those who had greater kūleana(responsibilities) such as war or politics and others with less important roles. Not all akua Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian gods) were worshiped by each individual. Gods varied from place to place and from island to island. Gods also differed according to a person’s area of expertise, for example, a canoe maker wouldn’t necessarily pray to the gods of hula (dance) for support and vice versa. There were, however, some deities and spiritual beliefs that all Hawaiians adhered to regardless of status. #kaloclan🌱 #kukiaimountain #aoletmt #notmt #maunaawakea #kulanahawaii #culture #tradition #like #clarklittle #gopro #goprohawaiilife #goproforeal # (at kukiaimountain)
