Hawaiian Culture and History
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The culture of Hawai'ian people, along with that of the rest of the Polynesians is unique primarily due to isolation of the islands.
A scholar once wrote that the Hawaiian culture disappeared before it could be properly recorded. The only written glimpse of these islands was given to us by Captain Cook and his officers.
Polynesian People and Early Hawaiians
More recently the Bishop Museum in Honolulu have pieced together the data of the Polynesian people to give us a fairly clear vision of the early Hawaiians.
Life centered around the kapu, a complex set of rules. For instance women were not allowed to eat certain foods like pork and bananas.
There were many Gods and the Hawaiians were once labeled the "noble savages", a label given not totally based in fact. Early Hawaiians were given to human sacrifices, cannibalism and they constantly fought amongst themselves. But they were not savages either as they developed a rich cultural heritage.
Living in Harmony with Nature
They also practiced a conservation that is in some respects should be envied by the West. Food was plentiful as the Hawaiians practiced closed fishing seasons and managed their natural resources. They lived simply and generally in harmony with nature.
Choose topics in the menu "Hawaiian Culture" at the top of the page to learn specifics of the Culture of pre-American Hawaii.
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Filipino Tattoos Ancient to Modern
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Description : Tattooing is a very old and spiritually respected art form that has existed in many different cultures around the world. After many centuries of not being practiced in Europe, tattooing was re-introduced to the Western world through the inhabitants of the Pacific Ocean. Beginnning in the 16th century, European explorers came across many people who practiced tattooing as an integral part of their cultures.This is the first serious study of...Read More
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