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Traditional Hawaiian Philosophy

The KUMULIPO is a mele ko‘ihonua (genealogical chant). It is a remembrance from the lipo (dark depth) of our deep past to the lipo of our unknown future. It heralds existence from dawn to dawn or the numerous beginnings and endings. The Kumulipo acknowledges the walewale as the earthy matter from which all forms have ascended. The fundamental images, thoughts, forms and shapes from walewale evolved and increased into familial patterns. It is the organic inception of all family systems.

The KUMULIPO articulates and reveals the connections of the sky and earth, the earth and ocean, the ocean and land, the land and man, man and gods and returns again to repeat the interrelationship of all things is an everlasting continuum, it is Ponahakeola, the chaotic whirlwind of life.

The KUMULIPO echoes the complexities and details of the Hawaiian thought process. His skillful observation and examination brought understanding and respect to everything in his world. He realized that the powers for growth and bounty were the basic universal elements. The moon cycle was the principle motivator of the earth. It generated extreme movements of the ocean, and caused the eyes of the land and sea to bloom and it dictated the time for earth to commence or rest from production. The sun and rain were the penetrating nourishing forces into the earth. The wind, ocean currents and rivers provided mobility for things and objects incapable of movement. The Hawaiian and all other natural forms of his world were the beneficiaries of this primal cadence and flow with the rhythm of the universe.

The KUMULIPO maintains the theme of survival, urgency for life and reservation of` all species with procreation and evolution as the sinew. The dualistic nature of this chant supports this theme. The dichotomy of land-ocean pairing strengthened the notion for procreation and survival of the species. The drama of manipulation between Wākea, sky-father and Papa, earth mother, is the ultimate example of procreation and regeneration. The assimilation with the taro child, the folding in of many generations of forms of Haumea and Hina, with their multiple nature forms continue the episode of preservation, evolution and survival.

The KUMULIPO is the reality of our dim past, the foundation for our present and the pathway into the future. It is a cognizant reminder of our ancestors, their intelligence, failure, defeat and conquest. This chant is a gift which encourages the warrior within us to awake to the contests and challenges, which continue to confront us today, by using ancestral intelligence and experiences with our own intelligence. It is the genealogy which connects the Native Hawaiian to land, sky and ocean.

Pualani Kanaka‘ole Kanahele

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