Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 6, 1 June 1999 — Kū mai nō, he pali [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kū mai nō, he pali

- There it stands, a cliff

By Claire Hughes Dept. of H e ū i t h Īhis saying communicates an admiration for a handsome person who, like a steep cliff, attracts attention. Posture and height were important measures of physical beauty in our traditions. Parents endeavored to achieve perfection and soundness of form and life in eaeh child. Smooth, elegant and balanced movements were highly valued physical attributes that parents taught their children. The marks of physical attractiveness that Hawaiians appreciated were striking and noticeable to the first newcomers to our islands. Captain James King eame to Hawai'i with Captain James Cook. Several characteristics of the Hawaiian physique drew his attention, and he wrote, "The Natives of these Islands are, in general above the middle size, and well made; they walk very gracefully and run nimbly, and are capable of bearing great fatigue."

King noticed that Hawaiians were taller than the average European and their bodies were balanced in movement while walking and running. He also noticed and remarked on the strength and endurance of our ancestors while performing hard physical work. Sixty years later, in 1836, Reverend William Ellis traveled around the islands taking a census or count of the inhabitants. His description of Hawaiians echoed Captain King's remark's. He wrote: "The natives are in general rather above the middle stature, wellformed, with fine muscular limbs, open countenances, and features frequently resembling those of Europeans. Their gait is graceful and sometimes state- I ly." Ellis went on to note that the ali'i were well-proportioned and intelligent and generally taller, broader than maka'āinana. Credit goes to a consistently better diet, as the ali'i never experienced periods of hunger as did commoners probably at times. I remember the constant reminders I received as a child to straighten up my posture while walking, sitting and standing. My mother would ask me to piek up my feet as I walked across a room. Sitting with my legs curled under me was a favorite of mine. Natural- | ly, this throws off center the halanee of the body, particular-

ly the backbone. The warning refrain I kept hearing was, "You're going to ruin your back if you don't straighten up." Nutritionally speaking, the major nutrients needed to maximize physical growth potential

in children are the minerals ealeium and phosphorus, as well as protein to build a strong framework of bone. Important sources of ealeium and phosphorus for early Hawaiians were the green leafy vegetables

and limu. The small bones of fish and fowl, well cooked and softened in an imu, were excellent sources of ealeium and phosphorus. Physical activity played a significant role in developing the attractive system of muscles noted by King and Ellis. Dr. Snow's studies of Hawaiian bones taken from Mōkapu showed that muscle development of men and women was remarkable and undoubtedly a result of the daily physical work and play in their existence. Adequate sleep is another significant ingredient of growth. Children in old Hawai'i were certain to get more rest and sleep than our children today. Eleehie lights and television entice many children away from the ehanee to grow as tall as their genetic makeup will allow. In conclusion, Hawaiians have the documented genetic potential to be a people of great strength and endurance, graceful, tall and stately. To recapture and cultivate these attributes, a return to a plantbased diet - away from fast foods - is necessary. A balanced diet with all the necessary nutrients as well as sufficient sleep at night and regular exercise are the first steps for . getting us back on to the enviable shape our ancestors possessed. ■

"The natives are in general rather above the middle stature, well-formed, with fine muscular limbs, open countenances, and features frequently resembling those of Europeans." -William Ellis, 1836

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With a healthy diet and exercise, Hawaiians today ean maintain the physical attributes of their ancestors. phoīo courtesy; oianne park