Statewide County HI Archives News.....Wiki Mo'olelo Part 2 . October 27, 2008 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/hi/hifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Darlene E. Kelley donkeyskid@msn.com November 16, 2008, 8:41 am Keepers Of The Culture, A Study In Time Of The Hawaiian Islands October 27, 2008 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley donkeyskid@msn.com October 27, 2008 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Hawai'i Keepers of the Culture A Study in Time, of the Hawai'ian Islands Wiki Mo'olelo - Part 2 by Darlene E. Kelley +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wiki Mo'olelo Part 2. Early Develpment of Hawai'ian Culture The early migrants from Central Poynesia did not arrive in Hawai'i total unprepared for life in a new island setting. They brought with them a collective knowledge accumulated over thousands of years of migration from southeast Asia relative to subsistence activities, engineering techniques, adaptation to environmental constraints, and handicrafts that were suited to dealing with the raw materials of a tropical environment. The Poynesian culture of which these settlers were a part, emphasized fishing and farming supplimented by dependence on dometicated animals. The development of this culture had also resulted in traditional ways of thinkiing and patterns of social behavior and formation of specific attitudes towards relationships among individuals and between individuals and nature. There were no single Polynesian culture when foreigners first made contact. The common culture would have existed when people were living in one island group before dispersing elsewhere. From that point on, each island group preceeded to develop its own culture, specializing in different directions while still retaining some fundamental elements of the early common culture. When the term "Polynesian culture" is applied to that functioning at the time of European contact, it is an abstraction referring to common features or general similarities underlying local differences in culture within Polynesia. The first voyagers to the Hawai'ian Islands would have brought with them only some of the cultural variations and subsistance items present in the various Polynesian societies, which would have become the basic agricultural staples of the Hawai'ian economy. Not only did these prehistoric peoples make extensive changes in the Hawai'ian landscape, modifying and manipulating the habitat to suit their needs, but they also had to live with certain directions in terms of needed skills and a subsistence base and gradually led to a culture very distinct from the Poynesian homeland. The social and poltical organization and the religious practices that emerged as part of this new Hawai'ian society were related to the peoples' past experiences as well to their adaptations to the ecosystem of their new home. As stated before, the Hawai'ian Islands consisted of high volcanic landforms separated by miles of open water. A great diversity of enviromental conditions existed among islands and upon each one. The first Poynesians reachng this new homeland found a virtually unspoiled landscape. Although somewhat barren and dusty in places, they were as well undisturbed reefs and lagoons, sandy beaches, dense inland rain forests, broad alluvial plains, precipitous cliffs, high peaks, and moist valleys and uplands, in addition to a mild, salubrious climate. And until European contact the area remained relatively pest and disease free. The most serious deterrent to technological advancement was the absence of metals, such as copper and iron, in a usable form, forcing reliance on stone, wood, shell, and bone for tools, weapons, and household impliments. Fortunately, one of these assets of their new home was an abundance of volcanic rocks, some of which were hard enough to be used as adzes, cutting impliments and abraders, while others could be broken up into blocks suitable for construction. Other types of stones, such a waterworn pebbles and talus fragments, were also used in building. The volcanic nature of their new home affected many aspects of the developing Hawai'ian culture. The percentage of land available for cultivation was small. The rugged mountainous interiors were neither conductive to habitation nor good for agriculture due to excessive rain and scarce sunlight. Some areas of the islands had abundant water, while others were very dry. Tidal waves, mud and rock slides, and volcanic eruptions were a constant threat, undoubtedly causing considerable damage and loss of life. Seasonal floodings, droughts, and other environmental conditions, seriously affected agriculturial as well as maritime pursuits and necessitated careful planning and community cooperation to insure an adequate and constant food supply. All things considered, however, these pristine tropical islands offered an abundance of raw materials and a favorable enviroment for the formation of a distinctively socially and politically complex culture. ++++++++++++ Settlement Patterns Intensive investigations into the nature and patterns of aborginal cultural adaptions to the varied enviromental situations found in the Hawai'ian Islands have been studied intensively. The settlement patterns refers to the nature and distribution of dwellngs ad other buildings reflecting the natural enviroment, level of technology, class differences, trade patterns, warfare, political and religious systems, and cultural traditions. Little is known about the earliest Hawai'ian population, but because of their Poynesian background as fisherman and agriculterists, during these formative time settlement probably began along the coastlines near rich fishing grounds. These scattered, often temporary, coastal homesteads, consisting od a few houses, were probably occupied by extended family groups. Although the character of a shoreline might seem promising for a village site, its selection depended upon shelter from winds and the availabilty of fresh water. In ancient times, water was available from several different sources. Surface streams in the larer valleys provided water for domestic use and later were used for irrigation purposes. Along the coastal plains, ground water was available in volcanic rock, limestone, and gravel. This lower level fresh water called basal water floats on the salt water because of its lesser specific gravity. Where there were no streams, coastal villages depended on basal water obtained from shallow wells dug in the sand a few feet from the shore. In some areas fresh water escaped along the coasts, causing springs under the surface to erupt through the salt water. This water could be captured in gourds for use. Settlement also extended into the lowland zone of alluvial windward valleys where there were fertile agricultural resources. Initially, some of the settlers living away from the coast on the hillsides and in the valleys where there were many rock caves, might have used these for housing. At some point these first arrivals began construcing shelters and arched dwellings of wood and bark on level spots along the curves of the land, along sandy shores and banks of streams, on ridges and hills, and in gulches and wooded areas --- wherever suitable material for thatching existed. Some evidence has been found that these early settlement structures contained fire hearths and that cooking was done in traditional Polynsian earth ovens. In time, the focus of permanent settlment became the fertle, well-watered windward valleys, but with continued exploitation of rich fishing grounds. Activities were not confined to the windward lowlands, ad eventually small permenant nucleated settlements became dispersed throughout ecological favorable locations on all major islands. The archipelago's population was probably increasing, due in a large part to the lack of restrictions on agricultural land and to plentiful resources. Evidence of house structures from this period reveals small round-ended huts with internal, stone lined hearths. Other types of houses, including rectangular shelters, might also have been present. Explosive population growth ultimately necessitated expansion into even the most arid and marginal regions of the archipelago. During that time, the population established numerous new sites and settlements, mostly in previously unoccupied areas. Small clusters of houses continued to appear in the interior portions of windward valleys, away from the coast, and along leeward coastlines The first settlements in these latter areas were situated at the most favorable spot, near natural fishponds or around sheltered inlets. This period was characterized by the rapid dispersal of population from the fertile windward regions into leeward valleys and along leeward coasts. Thoughout this period the continued settlement and development of less favorable areas occurred. Large numbers of rockshelters now served for both temporary and permanent occupation. Houses with rounded ends persisted in limited numbers, but the dominant permanent house style was rectangular.These structures frequently rested on stone-faced, earth-filled rectangular terraces, and a pattern of separate dwellings and cookhouses was established. The C-shaped shelter also appeared during this time., correlating with the development of leeward agricultural field systems. Just prior to contact, there were few significant lowland tracts not subject to some level of occupation and exploitation. An apparent decline in growth rates, however, led at this time to a leveling off of the population. The effect of such controls as abortion, infanticide, and wafare on the trend is unceratain. +++++++++++++++ Material Culture Little is known about the earliest Hawi'ian material culture. Stone adzes of various types were cerainly used, and because these people were fisherman, depending initially almost entirely upon the sea and its produce for their subsistence, simple fishooks were manufactured as well as trolling lures. Other items found from this early period include coral abraders and flake tools. Cultural items most susceptible to change during the settlement period would have been those used in sea exploitation, because of the different raw materials, marine conditions, and types of marine resources in Hawai'i. Ultimately certain distinctive patterns of Hawai'ian material culture did began to develop. Fishing gear was refined to adjust to local marine enviromental conditions and available materials. Elaborate two-piece bone fishhooks appeared and trolling lures became more distinctive. Styles of coral and sea-urchin files, awls, scrapers, and flake tools remained about the same. Few new portable artifact types developed over the years, and the basic Hawai'ian material culture inventory changed little until the arrival of Europeans and the introduction of foreign goods and materials. However, elaboration of elite status goods, such as feather capes and whale ivory pendants, and wood carving increased. Craft specialists standardized and controlled the production of these valued goods as well as of ulilitarium items. At this time of European contact, these status items were much admired for their design and artistry. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Next -part 3. 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