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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 5 page paper discusses the significance of ancient Hawaii's ruling class, the ali'i. Examples, traditions, customs and legends explored. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
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5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_MBhawaii.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
disobeying such rules was death. Set against this societal backdrop are the AliI, Ancient Hawaiis ruling class, the elite. The ruling system, or the kapu system, stipulated that there
could only be leniency toward a transgressor if someone intervened on his behalf. This someone was called the Kahuna, who was a priest that could forgive and cleanse the transgressor
of his or her sin. Their place of residence, their temple, or religious center, was called the Puuhonua and was strictly a place of refuge for those seeking sanctuary
from an enemy. The AliI were the ruling class and as such could enforce and wield the Kapua as they desired. Many of the rulers, as in any other
society, were benevolent, even going so far as to only venture out when their shadow would not be cast, so no one would be guilty of stepping on their shadow.
Others, however, were complete and utter tyrants. Most Westerners have only heard of Kamehameha the Great. This is due in a large part to his connection to Cook,
the explorer, and the man generally credited for discovering the Hawaiian islands. However, one has to understand that it was already discovered when Cook landed, and that it was Kamehamehas
foresight that brought all of the various Hawaiian Islands together. He was to be the last of the great Hawaiian rulers, for after the English arrived, their way of life
would change forever. The significance of the AliI is not small. Not unlike India or China, Hawaiian culture believed that a person was born into a certain way of
life, or a caste system. One was placed there by ones destiny and it was bad luck and virtually impossible to rise from ones lot in life. As such, then,
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