Post #20404 by 7TiKiS on Tue, Jan 21, 2003 7:23 AM

The subject of how the Hawaiian gods were represented by the priest sculptors (Kahuna Kalai) has been a consuming subject for me over the last few months.

I puchased the book by Cox, here's what I read and my interpretation, perhaps it may be of help...

Probably everyone already know this... but, there were 4 primary gods.

Ku - Was the most aggressive and active of the three. Ku-of-fishing,Ku-of-War,Ku-the-supreme-one, Ku-the-maggot-mouth. Ku was described as having a lizard body with flashing eyes and thrusting toungue.
Image:

Kane - was similar to Ku, but more closely aligned with life, procreation, the male principle and similar phenomena. Carvings of Kane typicaly included triangular shaped eyes surrounded by facets.

Lono - was the most humane of the four, he cared for crops, maturation, forgiveness, healing and other life sustaining aspects.
Lono had at least two distintively different appearances...
Lono in Makahiki season:

and the more well know image that includes the large headdress.

The author 'Cox' says the headdress may actually be representations of sails and reflects the influence of the visition by Cook to the islands. Personaly, I think the headress looks like a 2 dimensional representation of the islands as they would have appeared to a carver when looking at them from ground level. Perhaps, they represent the islands that were under the domain of the king at the time of the statues carving... those who know for sure are long long gone!

Kanaloa - Not much said, other than being secondarily associated with Kane. Unfortuanately, I'm unable to ascertain which if any of the original hawaiian sculptures represents Kane. I have found some recent examples but am reluctant to state them here as representative of how they were carved 300 years ago...

I have been working to get a copy of a publication by the Bishop Museum press titled "11 gods assembled", but as yet have not had any luck (the museum has not answered my inquires) Perhaps someone local could get a copy and post the content (eh Gecko?)

Temples were erected at the request (or demand) of the King, and would be dedicated to one of the 4 primary gods. Different dedication ceremoneys existed for each of the gods and creation of their temples. Many different statues were erected in the temples, usually there were two at the entrance, with another dozen or so in a semi circle inside the temple and a central carving called the "moi" which represented the god for which the temple was being erected. The dedication process started with the selection of the tree on the mountain side, followed by the carving of the statue and then the transport to the temple and the subsequent erection of the statue. There's a great deal more detail in the book about the dedication process that I'm intentionaly leaving out here... somethings are just better left unsaid (if you know what I mean).

The "Kona" style of carving is the only localized style of of Hawaiian sculpture that can be documented, developed on the Kona coast of the island in the late 1700's.

The main features are an increased head size and hair elaboration, faces dominated by snarling mouths and extended nostrils, there are no underlying bone structures, cheeks, foreheads or chins, parallel grooves to represent beards, and eyes dislocated into the volume of the hair. Body and limbs are simple elliptical or conical volumes finished by parallel faceting. The body units are clearly defined and separated, knees are flexed, calves are heavy.

Although the images I posted do not do justice to the description above. I for one am greatly impressed with the master craftsmanship exibited in the ku image as it appears in the book. I stongly encourage those interested to check the book out for "better views" and a whole lot more detail and information.

If anyone has a good reference to the Kanaloa image I'd be greatly interested in seeing it... All I have been able to find are images and references created in the late 90's.

7TiKiS

There's nothing like a sharp tool!

[ Edited by: 7TiKiS on 2003-01-21 07:32 ]