11-23-2013, 05:10 AM
quote:
Originally posted by EightFingers
The conventional wisdom now is pointing to the idea they weren't slaves at and it was considered an honor to work on the pyramids.
To bring it back to Hawaii, what idea started the heiau?
This is a good link for basic information on the history of heiau creation. Interesting about the heiau built in Puna (JMO):
(*Snipped - Much more at link)
http://www.hawaiianencyclopedia.com/heia...places.asp
In ancient Hawai‘i there were many sacred places of worship known as heiau, including shrines to gods and places of refuge. These structures included stone enclosures and platforms as well as earthen terraces.
Heiau were also places where offerings and prayers were made to ‘aumâkua, personal or family gods, and sacred guardians and protectors that should be respected and even fed. Some heiau included an ‘anu‘u, or oracle tower, which might be covered with white kapa (tapa) barkcloth.
According to tradition, sometime before the year A.D.1200, a Tahitian kahuna (priest) by the name of Pâ‘ao founded a high priest line, known as kahuna nui. Pâ‘ao returned to Tahiti and brought back a chief named Pili [Kaaiea], who ruled the island of Hawai‘i and sired the royal line leading to King Kamehameha I, beginning a 700-year dynasty.
Before the arrival of Pâ‘ao the Hawaiians had built various heiau, but Pâ‘ao constructed the first temple of human sacrifice, Waha‘ula Heiau at Puna on the island of Hawai‘i. Pâ‘ao also introduced the war god Kûkâ‘ilimoku, and Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes.