By Keola Ryan

Hawaiians are a deeply spiritual people. Their inspiration and mana (spiritual power, energy, and life force) come from the powerful forces of their natural world. This world was immense. It stretched beyond the eight main Hawaiian Islands and encompassed Kahiki, Aotearoa, Te Pito o te Henua and everything in-between. It spanned the breadth of earth’s largest ocean and included a sea of stars in an endless night sky. Based on the enormity of their world, it is no wonder why ancient Hawaiians were polytheistic.

There are over 400,000 different gods recognized in Hawaiian culture. These include the principal deities, demi-gods, ‘aumakua (ancestral gods), and many lesser akua (gods). Each had their own realm of influence over some aspect of Hawaiian society. In this pantheon of akua were those who had greater kuleana (responsibilities) such as war or politics and others with less important roles. Not all akua Hawai’i (Hawaiian gods) were worshiped by each individual. Gods varied from place to place and from island to island. Gods also differed according to a person’s area of expertise, for example, a canoe maker wouldn’t necessarily pray to the gods of hula (dance) for support and vice versa. There were, however, some deities and spiritual beliefs that all Hawaiians adhered to regardless of status or class.

Listed below are the major gods collectively known as Ka Ha (lit. the four) that influenced every aspect of the Hawaiian world. They were equally revered amongst all islands in ancient times and are recognized throughout Polynesia as some of the most powerful gods in Oceania.

In this list, readers will find the common name for each god, along with their sphere of influence. Also included are some of the main kinolau belonging to each akua. Kinolau literally means “many forms.” They are the physical manifestations of an akua and even though they often take the form of a plant or animal, kinolau are not limited to only flora and fauna.

Common name:

Ku

Other names:

Kunuiakea, Kuka’ilimoku.

God of:

War, politics, sorcery, farming, fishing, bird catching, canoe building.

Kinolau:

‘Ie’ie, ‘Ohi’a Lehua, Loulu, ‘Ulu, Niu, Pueo, Mano, ‘Io, Niuhi, ‘Ilio, Koa.

Common name:

Lono

Other names:

Lonoikaouali’i, Lonoikamakahiki.

God of:

Peace, fertility, agriculture, prosperity, sports, healing (medicinal herbs), love making.

Kinolau:

Pua’a, Kukui, Hapu’u, Ipu, Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, ‘Ama’ama, ‘Ohua Palemo, thunder, clouds, lightning, rain.

Common name:

Kane

Other names:

Kanenuiakea.

God of:

Freshwater, life, procreation, canoe builders, increase of ‘o’opu, healing.

Kinolau:

Wai, ‘Ohe, Ko, La’i, Wauke, Kalo, forests, sunrise.

Common name:

Kanaloa

Other names:

N/A

God of:

Deep ocean, ocean winds, fishing, voyaging, healing.

Kinolau:

Ocean, Mai’a, Muhe’e, He’e, ocean winds, sunset.

Noah Keola Ryan is a Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner and educator on the island of O’ahu. He is a lecturer of Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawaii and owner of North Shore EcoTours and Pa’ala’a Cultural Farms. For more information about Keola’s educational tours and workshops visit www.northshoreecotours.com.