A. Gods- Akua (all powerful)
 

1. Major gods

a. Kane (god of worship; creator of heaven and earth)
b. Kanaloa (ruler of the dead; "black" sorcery; god of ocean and ocean winds)
c. Lono (god of harvest and rain, peace, agriculture, fertility, spirits)
d. Ku (god of war)

2. Lesser gods

a. Pele (fire [volcano] goddess)
b. Luka (hula goddess)

B. Class system
 

1. Organization

Gods
King (Ka moi)
Chief Minister/High Priest
Chiefs (Alii)
Priest craftsman (Kahunas)
Commoners (Ma Kaaiinan)
Outcasts (Kauwa), Class comparable to untouchables of India

2. Mana (spiritual power)

Conch shell announced approach of paramount chief, a possessor of mana.
Commoners were required to prostrate themselves to this chief or be executed.

3. Kapu

a. System of do's and don'ts that governed early lives
b. Examples:

Commoners do not look at chief.
Commoners do serve the chiefs.
Women do not eat pork and bananas, certain fish like shark.
Men and women do not eat together.

c. Usual penalty for breaking a kapu was death, unless one was able to reach safety of puuhonua (place of refuge) and be absolved by a priest.
d. November, 1819 Kapu system end: Kamehamehua II sat with his mother and stepmother to eat.

4. Puuhonua (place of refuge)

a. Buildings date back to 1550's used by people who had, as well as had not, violated a kapu.
b. Everyone believed that to violate the sanctity of any place of refuge would displease the gods and incur their wrath, i.e., volcanic eruptions, hurricane or tidal wave.
c. Once inside puuhonua, refuge seekers were safe from their pursuers. Those in pursuit were not permitted within sacred grounds. Anyone who dare to enter were immediately slain by the priest as they had broken a kapu.
d. Bones of kings buried within refuges.

5. Heiaus (places of worship)