Kaua‘i-born Juliet Rice Wichman (1901-1987), in her day an authority on ancient Hawaiian agriculture, delivered a lecture titled “Agriculture” to students at Kamehameha Schools, O‘ahu during the early 1930s. What follows is an abbreviated account of selected portions of her
Kaua‘i-born Juliet Rice Wichman (1901-1987), in her day an authority on ancient Hawaiian agriculture, delivered a lecture titled “Agriculture” to students at Kamehameha Schools, O‘ahu during the early 1930s. What follows is an abbreviated account of selected portions of her talk.
In old Hawai‘i, the first night of each of the 12 months of the Hawaiian year was the night of the new moon, named Hilo. Hoaka was the name of the second night, Mohalu the 12th, and Hua the 13th. Plants grown for their leaves were planted on Hilo and Hoaka. Root plants, such as taro, sweet potatoes and yams, were planted on Mohalu and Hua.
As the planting date drew near, farmers invoked the moon goddess Hina. At planting time, prayers were said and offerings of produce were made to other gods. Prayers and offerings were made to Lono when dryland taro was planted, to Kane when planting wetland taro, and to the demigod Kanepuaa when planting sweet potatoes.
Offerings were made to Ku, the patron of hardwood trees, when tools were made, Kane was also worshiped to provide sun, as was Lono to give rain.
Laka, the goddess of wild wood and wild growth, was worshiped when farmers cultivated virgin land, which they prepared by turning the natural vegetation under the soil or burned to fertilizer the land.
When soil became depleted, young hau branches were placed on the soil and covered with mud to rot and replenish the earth.
After new leaves sprouted in a wetland taro field, Kane was praised: “Kane, great giver of life, Here is the luau, The first fruit of our field. Come thou — eat of it; Preserve me, thy child, thy cultivator, All life is from thee, O Kane, The word is spoken — the prayer is freed!”
