When learning Hawaiian history, start at the beginning
On a quest to restore a heiau located in Kahoma (County of Maui), it is necessary to do it the right way. If anyone can help, it would be appreciated.
Like Gideon in the book of Judges, Kahoma’s heiau has been destroyed. It’s time to “Build an alter to the Lord your God. Build it on this high ground. Lay its stones in the right order.”
When learning about Hawaii’s history, it’s best to go back to the beginning when love was what ruled in hearts and minds. Returning to the idol-worshipping kapu system of Hawaii’s “Dark Ages” robs people of the true source of Light.
Existing to this day and for these days are Hawaiians that know “the mystery.” Revival of Hawaiian culture requires these secret-keepers to reveal the Truth about the One-True-Living-Creator God.
One outstanding Hawaiian servant of God is Henry Opukaha‘ia. Honoring his legacy, the 2019-2020 bicentennial commemorates the role he played in Hawaii becoming a nation that led the world in literacy, innovation and human rights.
Opukaha‘ia was one the most influential people of his time. Inspiring foreign missions, his testimony changed the lives of many people across the globe for eternity.
Returning in 1993 to the Big Island from Connecticut, Opukaha‘ia’s remains were laid in a vault facing the sea at Kahikolu Church.
Nearly every Hawaiian today has ancestors that believed the “Good News” receiving Jesus as their Savior. Hawaii experienced one of the greatest Christian awakenings ever recorded in history.
“Hawaii’s Great Awakening” occurring in the mid-1800s was followed by a great falling away as a result of evil doings. People calling themselves “Christians” exhibited Satan’s attributes to kill, steal and destroy.
Queen Lili‘uokalani recognized the true identity of those imposters responsible for the overthrow. Her faith in Jehovah remained steadfast, evident in her Christ-like response of grace, forgiveness and love.
Revival of Hawaiian culture needs to go back to its origins of love.
Michele Lincoln, Lahaina
Nothing like a nice little propaganda piece to start off your week.
Not sure what your point is, but, religion sure seems to cause a lot of the worlds problems, now and in the history of mankind. Nothing more dangerous than a true believer of any religion.
James,
Everyone has beliefs of some kind. The 20th century has demonstrated that atheistic beliefs are the most dangerous of all. Stalin, Mao, Hitler, and Pol Pot each killed millions or tens of millions of their own people. This level of bloodshed is vastly worse than what “religious” rulers may have done.
Three of those bloodthirsty leaders were outspoken atheists. Hitler pretended to have some religious connection in order to deceive the German people, but Hitler’s philosophies were fundamentally opposed to Judeo-Christian ethics.
I truly believe in the essence of incorporating the breadth and depth of the Hawaiian culture into the educational system and through all other means and avenues of bringing awareness, appreciation, and understanding of what “aloha” means and why it is so important to protect and preserve our environmental integrity, as well! It is survival! It is appropriate. It is the “bond” that binds us together—-past, present, and future!
The mid 1800’s is the beginning? The missionaries brought diseases that wiped all almost all true Hawaiians. Why do you try to gloss over this? Your timeframe is way off.
Jeff,
Where did you pick up such lies? The missionaries did not bring the diseases. Hawaii had been a popular stopping destination for whalers and traders for decades before the missionaries came. These whalers and traders had been stopping all over world picking up diseases and bringing them to Hawaii. The missionaries included doctors who started vaccinating Hawaiians and saved thousands of lives. A good example is Dr. Smith who lived in Koloa.
The fact that you and others write such nonsense indicates that there are people trying to slander the missionaries with no regard for the truth, just hoping the rest of us are ignorant.
Interesting letter Michele! For perspective, if you really want to go back to the “beginning” of Hawaii history you would need to go back to the beginning. The Marquesan’s, who were a very small race of people averaging 5 ft. or less in height (Menehune as they’re referred to today), first discovered Hawaii after paddling from the Marquesas Islands around 400 AD. These peaceful “love centered” non-Christian people landed, colonized, and occupied their new found home known as “Hawaii”. Eventually they grew to many thousands of souls who settled and called Hawaii their home. Now turn the clock forward to around 900 AD when the larger in stature Tahitian explorers from Tahiti found Hawaii only to see that the Marquesan’s where already here and well established on the Islands. These “immigrants” from Tahiti, with the generous help of the Marquesan’s, grew in number and strength until the larger Tahitian inhabitants attacked and killed off the Marquesan’s (genocide), thereby stealing the new Hawaii paradise for themselves. Then there was Captain Cook who brought “Christianity” to the Islands and the “Christians” eventually gained control of Hawaii through a bloodless overthrow coupled with their effective proselytizing by Christian Missionaries some of whom became wealthy beyond imagination and whose descendants today still own hundreds of thousands of acres of Hawaii having been given it by the Tahitian Hawaiian Royalty who wanted to go to heaven. The majority of “Hawaiians” finally accepted Christianity and voted to become a State of the Christian Nation of the United States in 1959. The “love centered” Hawaiians of the 1800’s you’re talking about are the Tahitian Hawaiian descendants who became Christians at the strong suggestions of their conquerors. Since I’m not aware of any peaceful and loving Buddhist Nations who have attacked it’s neighbors, it is interesting to ponder what would have happened to Hawaii if the Buddhists had arrived and influenced these beautiful Islands before the Christians? Or if the atheist Russians, or Mohammad’s Muslims had arrived in place of Captain Cook? The world weaves it’s fascinating webs regardless of which “religion” is temporarily in control.
Gordon,
I could not follow your comment about the Buddhists. We likely agree, but I will comment that both Jesus and the Buddha promoted peace and love in their teachings. The influences of Islam and the Pagan Tahitians that conquered Hawaii before Cook arrived were not so peaceful.
For the record, as the article says, the Hawaiians completely converted to Christianity between 1820 and the late 1850s. This was before white people had any major power in the rule of the islands. The islands were ruled by Hawaiians. It was done voluntarily. It has been reported that many older Polynesian cultures had beliefs and values that were very similar to Christianity. That is why the Hawaiians completely converted so quickly.
Christians ruined this island. Still are. Funny to drive around on island and see bumper stickers promoting Christianity only to have that person drive selfishly and throw trash out the window.
Isn’t it pretty arrogant to say the Hawaiian culture was saved by Christianity? That religion eviscerated the culture.
I don’t think so. Just that the Hawaiians had no other choice but to change with time. No where to go. Not caring about technology is their own choice. Not that christians don’t care about the world or life or anything else. Hawaiians are that way.
well that’s just like your opinion man
What a crock… Religion is the scourge of planet Earth.
How convenient that those proselytizing the virtues of Christianity have forgotten the Spanish Inquisition,. Left out the Pilgrims eventual wiping out of the Native Americans….or “Manifest Destiny”. The takeover, slaughter and enslavement of Central America by the Spanish in the name of Christianity. The slave trade condoned by the church. Should i go on… I’m sure your depth of denial won’t make a difference. Have great day