Coral and Hawaiian Cosmology

I have always loved coral and so when the marine preserve at Kelakekua Bay started a project to reforest the waters it inspired me to look at the cultural significance to the Hawaiian people of this amazing animal. From a single cell the size of a pin head a reef can form, attracting to itself the nutrients it needs. Freshwater from lava tubes and aquasprings which flow into the bay, are ideal at providing iron and other essential elements that the sea water lacks. We rely on coral reefs to support over 75% of all marine creatures as well as protect islands and provide food for many.

Below is a 14 minute video of the morning when we all joined together sharing a sacred responsibility (Kuleana), to reestablish the coral reef for future generations.

https://vimeo.com/916525461?share=copy&fbclid=IwAR2-PWotrGZbZhSWwnSvmqMbJyvNROfbEJg4gz-iLyPZ6Dttd-CcvGH2txk

According to the Kumulipo, the traditional creation story and chant of the Hawaiians, the coral polyp was the first form to emerge; the first ancestor to be born from the darkness. Coral can represent the shared cosmogonic genealogy of all of us. In the second era, or wā, the Kumulipo announced the existence of the whale.

Hawaiian cosmology says that it is Pō, the never ending mysterious female night that gives birth by herself to a son and daughter, who by their incestuous mating create the world.  The father parent is Kumulipo, the foundation of male darkness and Pōʻele the foundation of female darkness. Pō is the ancestor of all the Akua, the source and divinty in every aspect of life. To the Hawaiians at that time incest created divinity and so the coral polyps are divine.

The goddess Hina is asscoiated with the coral, her body (kinolau), the coral reefs and the coral heads (pūkoʻa) are her genitalia. From them Hina as Hina‘ōpūhalako‘a, gives birth to sea urchins, seaweed and other reef creatures. The sticker above shows the crescent moon with coral growing from the surface. Koʻa, coral, was planted in circles to attract the fish and other foods that were wanted for the community. Is this the beginning of powerful women coming together in ceremony circles !?

Hina is also known as the moon goddess, Hina ai malama, for she controls the tides and the reefs and so was prayed to for good fishing. Hina was also honoured before picking mediciinal herbs and plants. Hinahānaiakamalama was also prayed to while women beat tapa (bark cloth), the cloth that was used to cloth the Hawaiians. According to Mary Pukui it was from one of her shells that Maui made his hook that was able to unite all the islands together.

Hina gives birth to new life and to death for it is the women who have the secret of the fire ( Hinaakeahi).

Nā Akua Wāhine Kapu: Sacred Female Gods

O ke au i kahuli wela ka honua
At the time of changing the earth was hot

O ke au i kahuli lole ka lani
At the time of changing, the heavens unfolded

O ke au i kuka‘iaka ka la
At the time when the sun appeared in the shadows

E ho‘omalamalama i ka malama
Causing the moon to shine

O ke au o Makali‘i ka po
At the time when the Pleiades were seen in the sky

O ka walewale ho‘okumu honua ia
When the slime established the earth

O ke kumu o ka lipo, i lipo ai
The source of the night that made night

O ka lipolipo, o ka lipolipo
In the unfathamable dark blue darkness

O ka lipo o ka la, o ka lipo o ka po
In the darkness of the sun, in the endless night

Po wale ho–‘i
It was entirely night

Hanau ka po
The night gave birth

Hanau Kumulipo i ka po, he kane
Born to the night was Kumulipo , a male

Hanau Po‘ele i ka po, he wahine
Born  to the night was Po‘ele, a female

Hanau ka ‘Uku-ko‘ako‘a,
Born from these two was the Coral Polyp

I hope this inspires you to take action and protect the coral and all the sea creatures within the oceans. As we look inside and breathe deeply from our naʻau, our connection to all that is, we realise the health of the coral is intimately related to life and the wellbeing of every person and living creature.

References

Na Wahine Kapu, Divine Hawaiian Women, Lilikalā Kameʻeleihiwa, Ph.D. ʻAi Pōhaku Press 1999

https://www.wpcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Hina_2018_poster_ActualSize-1.pdf

Pukui, Mary Kawena. 1983. ʻŌlelo Noʻeau Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings. Bernice P. Bishop Museum Special Publication No. 71. Bishop Museum Press. Honolulu HI.

https://feelhealshare.com/2022/12/31/coral-and-their-supporting-microbiome/

https://feelhealshare.com/2024/03/04/coral-regeneration-in-kealakekua-bay-hawaii/