How real is the rascism ?

[opihikao]

quote:

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Originally posted by Green

There are some historians that believe that there were people living in Hawaii before the Hawaiians arrived, and that this race of people were eliminated by the Hawaiians. Some speculate that these original inhabitants were of smaller stature in size. Has anyone else heard of this ?

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The menehune was the first that came to mind, and then I found this:

(*Snipped - more at link)

AD 400 - Estimated to be the time of the first explorers to Owhyhee from southeast Asia and the Marquesas Islands, a gentle people free of class subjugation and war. I have personally seen their intricate work on the exquisite fish ponds of Kauai. Sometimes called the Melanesian Polynesians and even sometimes thought to have been the mythical Menehuni of the Polynesian Hawaiian legends.

http://www.hawaii-inns.com/history/

Then, there is this historic belief of where Hawaiians came from (in short, via Tahiti):

(*Snipped - More at link)

The first settlers of the Hawaiian Islands likely came from the Marquesas Islands some time between A.D. 200 and A.D. 500. The Marquesas Islands are a ring of ten steep volcanic islands about 2,500 miles (4,023 km) southeast of the Hawaiian Islands, 740 miles (1,191 km) northeast of Tahiti, and 3,700 miles (5,955 km) west of Peru.

The ancient Polynesian navigators who discovered the Hawaiian Islands likely began their west-to-east journeys when westerly winds replaced the prevailing easterly trade winds. If they failed to find land, then they could wait for the trades to return and carry them home.


http://www.hawaiianencyclopedia.com/firs...hawaii.asp

As to the "menehune", this is a good explanation, which also ties into the Marquesas travelers:

http://www.hawaiianencyclopedia.com/the-...t-race.asp

And this is mirrors the tales we were told by kupuna about the menehune:

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/m/menehune.html

In Hawaii, it is the mischievous Menehune who are said to haunt the deep forests or the mountains of Pu'ukapele ("Hills of Pele"). They come out mostly at night to play tricks on people, or to serve them if they feel that way inclined.

The mythology of the Menehune is as old as the beginnings of Polynesian history. Some say that the great god Maui himself, was one of the tiny creatures. When the first Polynesians arrived in Hawaii, they found dams, fish-ponds, and even Heiaus (temples), all presumably built by the Menehune who were already there, living in caves.

The creatures are said to be about two feet high, although some have been seen as small as six inches, capable of fitting in the palm of someone's hand. They are always naked, but the long straight hair that falls to their knees keeps them warm and discreet. Apparently no two of them are the same, and they can be so moody as to be malicious and dangerous one day, and simply harmless the next. But they are always tricky, and therefore should be avoided, unless a special favor is absolutely needed of them.

Sharing some of our kupuna beliefs about the menehune: Do not cut hair or nails at night, menehune takes it for kolohe spells; Do not make plans at night (ie. go fishing, menehune will hear and chase away fish, etc).

I always believed menehune were real growing up. [] JMO. (Apologies for the long, perhaps off topic post) Enjoy the day all!