How Has Hawaiian Tiki Culture Been A Part Of Our Society?
Hawaii, located in the Polynesian triangle, has many traditions and beliefs that are still being practiced by local residents. The Hawaii religion is polytheistic, which means that people worship many different gods and goddesses. Believing that the sky, sea, and earth are ruled by supernatural forces, they created gods and goddesses that each represented a force. It is known that they worship around 40.000 spirits and gods. However, there are four main gods that the Hawaiians praise: Kane, Ku, Lono, and Kanaloa. Tikis, which are large wooden sculptures, usually represent the four main gods and are displayed in many areas of the island. But what is the importance of these tiki gods and how is the tiki culture integrated in our society today?
Tiki is the name of the first human male and is used to describe statues of gods in Hawaiian and Polynesian mythology. In the early 1800s, the Maori tribe colonized the islands. They were the first ones to carve tiki statues and used them to mark sacred grounds. Four significant gods are usually made into statues which is why they are also known as the tiki gods. Kane is the god of creation and is considered the father of all gods and goddesses. The word ‘Kane’ means man. Kane is regarded as the father of all man along with other gods. His tiki statue represents many aspects of the natural world like a human body, a fishlike mouth, and leaflike hair. If people were creating something or sought help when giving birth, they would worship Kane and give him offerings. Kane is closely related to Kanaloa, the god of the sea. Kanaloa is often symbolized by the squid. Kane and Kanaloa are known as complementary powers. The creation of a canoe, for example, is done with the help of Kane while sailing it is done with the help of Kanaloa. Kanaloa created the god of war, Ku, which is known to be a vicious god and rules over eight months of the year. He is the only god that calls for human sacrifices in rituals. Lono is the god of peace and fertility. It is believed that he keeps the land fertile by bringing sun and rain, which is why he is also known as the god of rain and agriculture. He rules over 4 months of the year which is called the Makahiki season. During this season, war is forbidden and a peaceful environment is created. People eat, play games, and relax. These four highly praised gods were carved into tikis often with big open mouths and scary faces to fight away evil spirits. They are often carved from a lava stone because most of the islands they are displayed in are volcanic. Tiki culture is not just Polynesian mythology but with some aspects, it is also a part of our society.
In the 1930s, tiki culture became popular among people along with other Polynesian artwork. Restaurants and bars were made that featured tropical drinks, music, and tikis. They gained a lot of recognition and served as a tropical getaway with relaxing music and a fun atmosphere. Today, we can still see such bars. Even Disneyland has an ‘enchanted tiki room’ with tropical bars showcasing the tiki culture.
It is fascinating to know that the wooden sculptures we come across in tropical bars or theme parks actually have a big historical background and have made an impact on our society.
Work Cited:
http://www.mythichawaii.com/tiki-gods.htm
http://www.mythichawaii.com/tiki-history.htm
https://prsms.pasco.k12.fl.us/wp-content/uploads/prsms/2014/11/Tiki.pdf
https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/the-four-major-hawaiian-gods
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polynesia
https://www.homewetbar.com/blog/history-of-the-tiki-culture/
