My trip to Hawaii is in a couple of weeks’ time and haven’t even drafted an itinerary. I started browsing last night and realized there are so many things to do there. Other than the usual beach activities and Pearl Harbor, here are some must-see places and must do activities - gigantic Pineapple Garden Maze at the Dole Plantation, submarine tours, Ghost Tours at night, trips to volcanic craters, Hawaiian hole-in-the-wall food tours, Macadamia Nut factory tour, water theme parks, battleships turned museums… Is 1 week enough?! Should have done research before booking 2 months ago! Tsk-tsk…Anyway, I’ve done a little reading about Hawaii’s history and culture and here are some interesting facts:
It’s because of a bird called plover which lead to the discovery of Hawaii. Seafaring Polynesians observed the movement of the Plover and thought where the birds go. They were heading north and therefore, they must be going somewhere. This curiosity may have lead to the discovery of Hawaii which was about 2,000 miles north of Tahiti.
- Like most native tribes, the early Hawaiian society was feudal and territorial. Each territory would have a chief or king and people were divided into classes – the highest class being priests, healers and astrologers; next will be carftsmen and artists; then the working class like fishermen and laborers; and the lowest being social outcasts and slaves.
- The tribes had a set of rules called “kapu” (taboo) and if you’ve been found violating, you can be executed by clubbing, stoning, strangulation, buried or burned alive, or even offered as a sacrificial victim for a god.
- Most rules in the “kapu” system were senseless – for example you can be put to death for allowing your shadow to fall upon the house of a chief, or for passing through the chief’s doorway, or for appearing before the chief with mud on your head! And women couldn’t eat pork, bananas, coconuts nor they could eat with men.
Captain James Cook, the renowned British explorer and navigator, discovered Hawaii in 1778. He went there twice that year and the tribes were generally friendly and they even traded goods with them. But on his second visit, a fierce winter storm came upon the island and destroyed his ship’s masthead. They returned to an island (which they previously visited) to repair the ship but unfortunately, at that time, the island was declared taboo by the chief since a festival just ended. Thus, the tribes weren’t as friendly anymore and attacked the ship and stole items. Cook took the chief as hostage (a strategy which worked for them in other Pacific Islands) but about 200 Hawaiian warriors attacked them. Cook was killed and his body was cut into pieces and burned! Only some parts of his body were returned like the hands, skull, thigh bones and arm bones. Cringe…
- It was between 1819-24 when the “kapu” (taboo) system was finally abolished by the commanding ruler of Hawaii Kamehameha II. And shortly after that, missionaries from Europe arrived on the island.
Anyway, I also chanced upon some Hawaiian words and looks like it’s going to be a challenge for us Filipinos. Check out these Pinoy-sounding Hawaiian words and what they mean:
ono (delicious/tasty)
wiwi (skinny)
lolo (feeble mind)
mauna (mountain)
mahalo (thank you)
pupu (snack or hors d’ ouvre)
I’m learning so many things already and I even haven’t stepped on the island! Aloha!:)
