Throughout the islands, you might run into warning signs that say “kapu.” This Hawaiian word is related to “taboo,” a term found in various forms throughout Polynesia. The simplest definition of kapu is “forbidden,” but the root of the term has a deeper connection to Hawaiian history and culture.
What does Aikapu mean?
ʻAi Kapu. The ʻAi kapu was the kapu system governing contact between men and women. Many aliʻi obtained their power through this system, and then would give thanks to the god of politics Kū. ʻAi means "to eat" and Kapu means sacred. Therefore, it is translated to "sacred eating".
What is taboo Polynesian?
Tapu is a Polynesian traditional concept denoting something holy or sacred, with "spiritual restriction" or "implied prohibition"; it involves rules and prohibitions. The English word taboo derives from this later meaning and dates from Captain James Cook's visit to Tonga in 1777.
What is the Polynesian word for taboo?
TapuTapu is practiced in various forms across Polynesia, from New Zealand to Hawaii, and is believed to be the origin of the English word “taboo”, with British explorer James Cook first noting the concept on a visit to Tonga in 1777.
What are the rules of Aikapu?
Before 1819 Hawaiian society was ruled by a system of ritual laws called kapu. One of these, the aikapu (sacred eating), required men and women to eat separately. Because eating was ritual, some food items, symbolically associated with male deities, were forbidden to women.
What is taboo in Hawaiian?
What are examples of taboos?
Some examples of taboos include:
- In many Jewish and Muslim communities, people are forbidden from eating pork.
- In Western cultures which value youth, asking a woman's age is often discouraged.
- In some Polynesian communities, people are forbidden to touch the shadow of a chief.
What happens if you break tapu?
The violation of tapu would result in retribution, sometimes including the death of the violator and others involved directly or indirectly. Appropriate karakia and ceremonies could mitigate these effects.
Does tapu mean taboo?
Tapu is practiced in various forms across Polynesia, from New Zealand to Hawaii, and is believed to be the origin of the English word “taboo”, with British explorer James Cook first noting the concept on a visit to Tonga in 1777.
What does Hoike mean?
to show, to tellThe word hō'ike in Hawaiian means to show, to tell, to demonstrate one's knowledge.
Which Hawaiian can you not visit?
Once owned by Royalty, Niihau was purchased from King Kamehameha in 1864 and up to 1987, visits to the island were typically restricted to the owners and their guests, or government officials, which is how it gained its moniker; “The Forbidden Island”.
What does no ka oi mean in Hawaiian?
The bestNo Ka 'Oi: The best.