Religions Chart: Unit 1
Quezada_Week_1
Religion Name
Origins:
Founder, Key Figures,
Historical/cultural Development,
Cosmogony (creation stories), Myths
HOW THE RELIGION
STARTED …
* Write at least 3-5 sentences!
Basic Beliefs:
God, Afterlife, Humanity, Evil,
scripture/sacred writings, authority,
other unique beliefs or points of
view.
WHAT THE RELIGION
BELIEVES …
* Write at least 3-5 sentences!
Practices:
Annual Festivals, Regular
Meetings, Rites of Passage,
Ethical Codes, Expectations of
Individual Piety
WHAT THE RELIGION DOES
* Write at least 3-5 sentences!
Sacred Spaces: Geographical
Locations, Special Places, Typical
worship location, sacred worship
objects.
Hint: see pictures in the chapter.
WHERE THEY WORSHIP …
* Write at least 3-5 sentences!
Traditional Hawaiian Igbo
Much of what is extant in the Traditional Hawaiian religion was
brought over from the original settlers of Hawaii. These were the
Polynesian adventurers that made their way across the Pacific to
many islands, most notably the current Hawaiian Islands. The
Polynesians already had developed religion prior to their founding
of Hawaii.
As the Hawaiian religion is based off of ancient Polynesian
polytheism, they believe in a spiritual afterlife. The Hawaiians, as
the Polynesians based their religion upon experience as opposed to
faith. The Hawaiians believe if the fire goddess Pele was appeased,
peoples or villages would be spared from her volcanic effects.
Hawaiians believed that descendants could return as sharks. Also,
Hawaiians believed very much in the spiritual power known as
mana.
The vast majority of religious ceremonies were practiced at the
various heiau. Living in Hawaii for 9 years was a great experience
for me as a student of the Hawaiian Martial and Spiritual arts. I
learned about Polynesian and Hawaiian “bone tattoo” where the
shark’s tooth was used (and still is!!) used to create the permanent
skin tags. Tattoos are used to share names, and history of a family.
A taboo in ancient Hawaiian religion is that women must be
sequestered during childbirth. Also, men should never eat at the
same table as women.
Most of the places of worship I personally have been to and have
read about are at the heiaus, and especially at the important
historical sites of Hawaii. The landing site of Captain Cook. The
300’ Pali cliffs where Kamehameha threw his enemies after the
final battle on Oahu. There are historical birthing stones in the
middle of the Dole Pineapple Plantation in central Oahu that are of
significant importance to Hawaiians as well.
Reference

Molloy, M. (2013). Experiencing the worlds religions: tradition, challenge, and change. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies.