Hawaii Five-0 2010 Season 1, Episode 1—what defines Hawaiian culture?

In the 2010 pilot episode of Hawaii Five-0, we are introduced to the members of the special police task force authorized by the governor of Hawaii to investigate corruption in the Honolulu police department.

The Hawaii Five-0 task force

• Decorated Navy SEAL Steve McGarrett, who reluctantly accepts the governors offer to head the team after he witnesses the murder of his father, John McGarrett, a Honolulu police officer. McGarrett hand picks three other team members.
• Recently divorced New Jersey police officer Danny “Danno” Williams, who has moved to Hawaii to be close to his daughter, but has trouble understanding Hawaiian ways.
• Disgraced Honolulu police officer Chin Ho Kelly, protégé and trusted colleague of John McGarrett, who has been wrongly implicated in missing police department evidence.
•  Recent police academy graduate Kono Kalakaua, who is Chin Ho’s cousin and a former surfing champion with brains, brawn, and beauty.

As the new show unfolds and we come to know the characters in the Five-0 task force, we begin to wonder.

What makes Hawaiians—Hawaiian?

The Hawaiian culture was formed from approximately 1300-1800 AD. During this time, migration from other Polynesian island groups has ceased, Europeans had yet to set foot in the Hawaiian Islands, and the Hawaiians formed a well-organized, well-structured society. Here is a summary of some of the principle aspects of ancient Hawaiian culture.

• Ahupua`a was the Hawaiian system of land division, shaped by the unique island geography. Each ahupua`a was formed between two mountain slopes that ran from the center of the island to the sea. Each ahupua`a contained all of the resources needed for the community. Those on the coast fished, and traded with the people inland for their farmed foods or for wood cut from the upslope forest to build canoes and houses.
• Ali`i was Hawaiian ruling class determined by lineage. The ali’i chiefs possessed great mana (power, authority, and prestige), managed the ahupua`a, oversaw important religious rites, acted as leader during times of war, and undertook the building of public works projects such as fish ponds, taro terraces, irrigation systems and heiau.
• Heiau were temples or shrines. There were two types, one built for peacetime ceremonies and war temples used for, among other things, human sacrifice.
• Kahuna were the class of priests and expert craftsmen who oversaw rites and practices specific to their profession, such as canoe building or medicine.
• Maka`ainana were the common people, laborers and workers who farmed, fished, and fought for the chiefs during wartimes. They were taxed to support the ali’i class, paying with food, clothing and other goods.
• Kauā or kauwā was the slave class. According to legend they were descendants of infidelity. In any case, the kauā were those who were born without mana (authority or prestige), perhaps were war captives or their descendants. Kauwa lived separately, were forbidden to mingle with or marry above their class, may have been tattooed to identify their caste, and were used by the ali’i for human sacrifices.
• Kapu was the system of laws used by the ali’i to govern Hawaii. Kapu could be fair or not, depending on the ruling ali’i. Kapus were abolished by the successors to the Great King Kamehameha I, after his death in 1819.
• Featherwork was used to produce capes, cloaks, helmets and leis for the ali’i class as signs of rank and status.
• Lei were used throughout Polynesia. However, the Hawaiians developed a richer variety of leis than anywhere else. Leis were worn by commoners as well as ali’i. Leis are most commonly made from flowers, but may also be made from leaves, shells, feathers, bones, seeds, and nuts.
• Hula dancers received rigorous training and were materially supported by the ruling ali`i. Hula was performed not only for social enjoyment but also to preserve history. Many different types of hula existed. Hulas were danced standing and sitting; with and without implements or accompaniment by instruments or voice, some had deep religious significance and others were frivolous entertainment.
• Kapa cloth, also called by its Tahitian name tapa, is made using the bark or fibers from several varieties of plants, including wauke and po'a'aha (closely related to the mulberry tree), mamaki and oloa (plants in the nettle family), `akala (Hawaiian raspberry), and the hau tree (related to hibiscus). Kapa was used for clothing, as well as bedding and wrapping material.
• `Auwai or irrigation ditches were used by Hawaiians in a sophisticated system to supply taro terraces with a constant supply of circulating water. Terraces were designed so that water from the `auwai flowed from one pond to the next, moving slowly enough so as not to sweep away soil or young plants, but quickly enough that the water temperature remained cool.
• Surfing chants exist in Hawaiian as far back at the 15thcentury, though the sport may not have been invented there. Ali’i would have boards built for them out of prized wood from koa or wiliwili trees and reserve the best beaches for themselves by declaring a kapu. Commoners would surf using whatever they could fine, or just body surf. Women and men alike were accomplished surfers.
• Makahiki was a harvest festival. The start of the festival determined by the arrival of the Pleiades constellation in the fall and continued through winter weather. Curing the festival, the harvest was distributed and taxes were paid to the ali’i with food, clothing, animals, and other items. Games and sports were played. The makahiki fell away after the kapu system was abolished.
• Luau did not exist in Hawaii until after 1819 when the kapu system was abolished. Prior to 1819, men and women did not eat together. Important ceremonies were called 'aha 'aina or pa’ina. Women and commoners were also forbidden from eating many delicacies. King Kamehemeha II hosted the ‘aha noa for both men and women and the luau was born. The name luau comes from a dish called luau consisting of taro leaves cooked in coconut milk with seafood or chicken.

In the 2010 Hawaii Five-0 pilot episode, we are introduced to the special police task force authorized by the governor of Hawaii and learn the defining characteristics of each of its members. The cultural elements listed here are an introduction to the characteristics that distinguish Hawaiians from the cultures of their Polynesian ancestors.

References

http://www.hawaiihistory.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ig.page&CategoryID=305

http://www.hawaii-luaus.com/history.htm