In the

religion and mythology Religion and mythology differ in scope but have overlapping aspects. Both terms refer to systems of concepts that are of high importance to a certain community, making statements concerning the supernatural or sacred. Generally, mythology is consi ...

of the

ancient Hawaii Ancient Hawaii is the period of Hawaiian history preceding the unification in 1810 of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great. Traditionally, researchers estimated the first settlement of the Hawaiian islands as having occurred sporadicall ...

ans, Papahānaumoku (pronunciation: ɑːpɑːˈhɑːnaʊmoʊku — often simply called Papa — is a

goddess A goddess is a female deity. In many known cultures, goddesses are often linked with literal or metaphorical pregnancy or imagined feminine roles associated with how women and girls are perceived or expected to behave. This includes themes of s ...

and the Earth Mother. She is mentioned in the chants as the consort of the sky god

Wākea In the Hawaiian religion, Wākea, the Sky father weds Papahānaumoku, the earth mother. The two are considered the parent couple of the ruling chiefs of Hawaii. ''Wākea'' was the eldest son of Kahiko ("Ancient One"), who lived in Olalowaia. ...

. Their daughter is beautiful goddess

Hoʻohokukalani Hoʻohokukalani is a Hawaiian goddess, mentioned in the ancient chants. She is described as a beautiful woman, who became a consort to her own father. Her full name is given as Kahoʻohokuokalani-i-kau-i-kaheahea ("she who sets the stars in he ...

, the main character of one myth. Papa is still worshipped by some Hawaiians, especially by women, as a primordial force of creation who has the power to give life and to heal. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument was renamed in 2007 to the

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) (roughly ) is a World Heritage Site, World Heritage listed National Monument (United States), U.S. National Monument encompassing of ocean waters, including ten islands and atolls of th ...

, in honour of Papa.

Mythology

Hawaiian haven for seabirds (6972322187)

According to the ancient myths, Papa is the wife of

, son of the god

Kahiko Kahiko-Lua-Mea (better known simply as Kahiko) is a god in Hawaiian mythology, who was once a chief on the Earth and lived in Olalowaia. He is mentioned in the chant ''Kumulipo'' and in the ''Chant of Kūaliʻi''. Kahiko is also mentioned in The ...

. Wākea is the Father Sky in the Hawaiian religion and a personification of the male creative power. He and Papa are representations of the divine masculinity and

femininity Femininity (also called womanliness) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with women and girls. Femininity can be understood as socially constructed, and there is also some evidence that some behaviors considered fe ...

. Together, they created the Hawaiian Islands and became the ancestors of the

Hawaiian chiefs Hawaiian may refer to: * Native Hawaiians, the current term for the indigenous people of the Hawaiian Islands or their descendants * Hawaii state residents, regardless of ancestry (only used outside of Hawaii) * Hawaiian language Historic uses ...

and noblemen. The most important offspring of Papa are the islands called

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...

(the ''Big Island''),

Maui The island of Maui (; Hawaiian: ) is the second-largest of the islands of the state of Hawaii at 727.2 square miles (1,883 km2) and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is the largest of Maui County's four islands, which ...

Oahu Oahu () (Hawaiian language, Hawaiian: ''Oʻahu'' ()), also known as "The Gathering place#Island of Oʻahu as The Gathering Place, Gathering Place", is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is home to roughly one million people—over t ...

and

Kauai Kauai, () anglicized as Kauai ( ), is geologically the second-oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands (after Niʻihau). With an area of 562.3 square miles (1,456.4 km2), it is the fourth-largest of these islands and the 21st largest island ...

. Chiefs claimed their descent from Papa and it was believed they were divine as well. The most famous child of Wākea and Papa is called

,Peleioholani, Solomon Lehuanui Kalaniomaiheuila (1906), ''Genealogy of the Robinson family, and ancient legends and chants of Hawaii''. Honolulu Bulletin Publishing Company, Ltd., 1908, Hawaii State Archives (Photocopy), CS 2209. R62 P45 1908. Translated into English by J. M. Poepoe. and she became Wākea's lover, according to the famous myth. When Hoʻohokukalani gave birth to a stillborn baby, it was Papa who named the child

Haloa Haloa or Alo (Ἁλῶα) was an Attic festival, celebrated principally at Eleusis, in honour of Demeter (Δήμητρα, η Αλωαίη), protector of the fruits of the earth, of Dionysus, god of the grape and of wine, and Poseidon (Ποσει ...

and buried him in the soft earth; from that place sprung the first ''taro''. Hoʻohokukalani again mated with her father, and had a living child, who was also named Haloa.

Worship

A womenʻs temple, called ''Hale o Papa'', is the primary religious structure associated with the worship of this goddess. ''Hale o Papa'' are often built in connection with ''

luakini In ancient Hawaii, a luakini temple, or luakini ''heiau'', was a Native Hawaiian sacred place where human and animal blood sacrifices were offered. In Hawaiian tradition, ''luakini heiaus'' were first established by Paʻao, a legendary priest c ...

'', or "menʻs temples" (places of "official" ceremony, which are primarily dedicated to the gods Kū and

Lono In Hawaiian religion, the god Lono is associated with fertility, agriculture, rainfall, music and peace. In one of the many Hawaiian stories of Lono, he is a fertility and music god who descended to Earth on a rainbow to marry Laka. In agricultu ...

), although it is believed by many practitioners that they may also exist independently. In the ''

Aloha ʻĀina Aloha Āina, which literally means "love of the land", is a central idea of Native Hawaiian thought, cosmology and culture. ''Aloha ʻāina'' brings a perspective that pervades many aspects of life. Its ecological and cultural orientations are fou ...

'' movement, Papa is often a central figure, as her spirit is that of the life-giving, loving, forgiving

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...

who nurtures human life, and who is being abused by the misdeeds of mankind, especially in regard to the abuse of nature.

Sources

{{Authority control Hawaiian goddesses Earth goddesses Creator goddesses

Mythology

Worship

See also

Sources