HawaiiAN TRIBE

Hawaiian Islands

CULTURE

The Hawaiian Tribe is not considered Native American but Polynesian descent, but because they were a tribal culture living in what is now an American state, they are grouped as a Native American Culture. The Hawaiian people lived and still live in the Hawaiian Islands. They spoke native Hawaiian.

They were originally nomadic, mostly living in huts made of straw. The men's jobs where to build fishpond walls and housing, fish, farm, and make tapa cloth. The women cooked, cleaned, made clothing, and took care of the home and children.

The Hawaiian people used short spears, clubs, shark toothed clubs, strangulation cords, trip weapons, throwing axes and the infamous Hawaiian daggers for weapons. They used the ocean for food. They ate different types of fish, crab, shrimp, and other sea life.

The Hawaiian Tribe is not considered Native American but Polynesian descent, but because they were a tribal culture living in what is now an American state, they are grouped as a Native American Culture. The Hawaiian people lived and still live in the Hawaiian Islands. They spoke native Hawaiian.

They were originally nomadic, mostly living in huts made of straw. The men's jobs where to build fishpond walls and housing, fish, farm, and make tapa cloth. The women cooked, cleaned, made clothing, and took care of the home and children.

The Hawaiian people used short spears, clubs, shark toothed clubs, strangulation cords, trip weapons, throwing axes and the infamous Hawaiian daggers for weapons. They used the ocean for food. They ate different types of fish, crab, shrimp, and other sea life.

Living in a warm climate, Hawaiians did not require much clothing. Men wore a loincloth called a malo. Women wore a skirt called a pa`u and a rectangular shawl or kihei. All their clothing was made of kapa, which is a barkcloth made from plant fibers. They decorated their clothing with patterned beads and decorative bamboo stamps. They could dye their clothing with vegetable dyes and made perfumes with extract from flowers.

Traditionally a lei was worn to show rank or royalty. Today, it has come to be used in celebrations and to welcome people. Native Hawaiians believed that the hula dance was a gift from the gods to humans.

They worshipped many gods and goddesses and had many legends and superstitions. For example, they thought that rain and rainbows brought blessings from the gods. Pregnant women would not wear leis because they considered it bad luck.

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HISTORY

THERE IS NO HISTORY INFORMATION FOR THE HAWAIIAN TRIBE.

THERE IS NO HISTORICAL TIMELINE FOR THE HAWAIIAN TRIBE.

THERE IS NO HISTORICAL IMAGE CAROUSEL FOR THE HAWAIIAN TRIBE.

Historical Hawaiian Map

TODAY

Most Hawaiian people today still live in the Hawaiian Islands. Though they are now part of the United States, they participate in their state government and run their affairs as a state and not a tribe. As a part of the United States, students attend public or private schools. Hawaiians also have health care and enjoy all the benefits that all other American citizens enjoy.

There are very few full-blooded native Hawaiian people. In the 2010 Census, there were 527,077 people who reported that they were Native Hawaiian or of a mixed race. There are only about 8,000 pure-blood Native Hawaiians left. After Hawaii was colonized, it became illegal to speak native Hawaiian. It was not until 1978 that the law was appealed and allowed the language to be taught in schools again. Today only 6% of Hawaiians actually speak their native language.

Today almost all native Hawaiian people live and work in Hawaii. Most people work in tourism, the military or agriculture. Native Hawaiian people have worked to have laws passed to preserve the Hawaiian culture and language.