Hawaiian Culture Essay

Historical Hawaii was affected by an influx of missionaries, leaving Christian beliefs spread throughout the island. The majority of the native Hawaiians, however do not identify as religious. For the most part, they believe as their ancestors had; in multiple gods, spirituality and high regard for their land. Maintaining Harmony and balance among these three things is the up most important aspect of their culture. Everything in their lives is impacted by Mana; spiritual energy from the land. Mana is present every day in their lives, and continues to be considered even after death. Death and dying is very important in the Hawaiian culture. The belief that the body contains mana that should be returned to the earth makes cremation a taboo. Hawaiians practice caution when touching the body, as they belief the mana can be absorbed from the living and transferred to the body. Many times, Families will bury the bones in their family lands to keep the closeness to the deceased, and to allow them to keep a watchful eye over the family. Death is not regarded as a time of sorrow, “the deceased’s spirit will be allowed to join their ancestors in a higher plain.” (Pentaris fesjo)
Dietary Practices Food is a major element of the Hawaiian culture. In historical Hawaiian, it was a symbol of status and was a direct link to the Gods.

(CITE). Breadfruit and sweet potatoes are also a staple of Hawaiian cuisine. Colorful fruits such as Guava, Coconut, papaya, and pineapple often adorn their plates. Hawaii is known for their pineapples, although the pineapple is not native to the islands. The Dole Plantation is housed there which makes the island plentiful with them. Another import that has made its way into the native Hawaiian’s daily cuisine is Spam. It is often referred to as the “Hawaiian Steak” and the locals have such a love for it, they have even created an Annual Spam