| slands of Hawaii have been settled for thousands | | | | ancient Hawaiian Society. Known as Maka'ainana, |
| of years. Though little is known of Hawaii's earliest | | | | families of the commoner class tended to |
| history, it is believed that the islands were settled | | | | specialize in certain careers. Even entire islands |
| by Polynesian travelers between A.D. 300 and | | | | became known for certain trades, such as Oahu, |
| A.D. 800. These Polynesians shared their cultural | | | | the chief manufacturer of tapa bark cloth, or |
| traditions, including religion, myths, and social | | | | Maui, known for canoe construction. The |
| organization, between the islands they colonized. | | | | Maka'ainana worked to support themselves as |
| For this reason, many of the islands in Polynesia | | | | well as the alii and kahuna. |
| share similar social structures and mythology, | | | | The lowest caste, known as Kauwa, consisted of |
| including the tiki. Upon their arrival, the Polynesian | | | | outcasts or slaves. These included law breakers |
| settlers built homes (hale) and temples (heiau). | | | | and war captives, and unlike the Maka'ainana, they |
| Religion played a significant role in early Hawaiian | | | | had no career path. Kapu, or royal rules, prohibited |
| mythology and social structure. | | | | those of other castes from associating with the |
| In Hawaii, the tribal system of Polynesia evolved | | | | Kauwa. |
| into a system of rigid castes, or social classes. | | | | In ancient Hawaii, the great chiefs owned all of |
| Following the customs of ancient Hawaii, people | | | | the land that was under their control. Constant |
| were born into a specific social class, and it was | | | | warring between chiefs meant that these |
| impossible to move between classes. Each group | | | | boundaries changed frequently. The Alli allocated |
| had assigned duties and responsibilities. | | | | control of this land to the lower chiefs, who then |
| The uppermost caste, known as Alii, consisted of | | | | allowed the commoners specified areas of the |
| the royalty and chiefs. Both major and lesser Alli | | | | land. |
| competed over land and power. Ancient Hawaii | | | | Most Hawaiians lived in an ahupua'a, which was a |
| included many warring islands as chiefs competed | | | | triangular piece of land running from the central |
| to gain control over more islands. The high chief | | | | mountains to the shore, usually with river valleys |
| lived in a house known as Hale ali'i, which was built | | | | on either side. Every ahupua'a owed taxes, in the |
| on a raised stone foundation and could only be | | | | form of labor and goods, to the overseeing chief. |
| entered by men. The next class, Kahanu, | | | | By the time of European contact, Hawaiian |
| consisted of priests that tended to the temples | | | | society had developed into feudalism. A system |
| and conducted religious ceremonies. The Heiau, or | | | | of slaves (kauwa) and peasants (maka'ainana) |
| temple, was restricted to the alii and kahuna, who | | | | supported the priests (kahuna) and royal society |
| drew divine power (or mana) from this spiritual | | | | (alii). Feudalism continued in Hawaii until 1810, when |
| place. Along with Alii, Kahanas had the ability to | | | | King Kamehameha unified the warring islands into |
| place a kapu, or ban, on places or things. | | | | one nation. European contact with the native |
| The commoner class consisted of the farmers, | | | | Hawaiians, which began in 1778, would forever |
| craftsmen, fishermen, and other workers of | | | | change the structure of Hawaiian society. |