Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 9, 1 September 2003 — ʻAʻohe puʻu, ʻaʻohe keʻe [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻAʻohe puʻu, ʻaʻohe keʻe

'Olelo alludes to lean, fit physiques of ancient Hawaiians

Our title is an 'ōlelo no'eau that means "no humps and no bends," and is said of a person who is physically perfect, a look cherished by our ancestors. Another pertinent 'ōlelo says 'Oki kilohaha ka pali o Waialoha, and means "straight and tall is the cliff of Waialoha." It was used to express admiration of a tall, well-formed person. Body molding was a technique mastered by the Hawaiian ancestors. Many elders are familiar with this practice, of whieh Mary Kawena Pūku'i provides written information. Mākua and kūpuna took great pains with childrearing to assure proper body alignment and physical attributes of their offspring. Infants and youngsters were massaged daily with very gentle pressure to smooth and lengthen muscles. Such massage also ensured alignment of the spine and limbs for straight posture and carriage of the body. Proper external alignment means sufficient internal space for growth of organs and muscles. Youngsters were taught appropriate postures for sitting, standing and walking, and

received constant reminders throughout childhood. Infant massage encourages and strengthens a special spiritual connection between parents, grandparents and their new offspring. Infants find the gentle pressure of massage very pleasurable. Smiling, talking and communicating through physical touch are natural ways to bond with newborns. As infants start to stand and walk, there is even more reason to eonlinue with massage. A well-developed body was a mark of good care given during early life and an indicator of continued lifelong care. It is a well-known fact that in ancient times, head shapes and facial features were molded to look like highly favored ali'i. Hands and fingertips were massaged and fingers were gently encouraged to tapered ends. The cultural practice of body molding and alignment was so pervasive that several of the first visitors to Hawai'i wrote complimentary accounts on the characteristic carriage and physiques of early Hawaiians. I learned from elders that bunchy, knotty muscles were to be avoided

by gentle massage and stroking, working with downward motions on legs and outward motions on the arms. Bulging, knotty muscles were thought to be ugly, less efficient, far less flexible, and not helpful in either the long hours of labor in lo'i and on dry land, or in the fighting arts. The extremely demanding physical work performed by our ancestors required

great strength, endurance and flexibility. Photographs of lua warriors depict this preferred, more refined musculature and stature. Among Hawaiian

warriors, flexibility was paramount, along with physical strength and

endurance. Young ali'i and strong young men received

extensive teachings īn the

tighting arts. Desha, in his book Kekūhaupi'o, provides many descriptions of the fearlessness of early Hawaiian warriors and their skill in using traditional weapons. In one story, he tells how Kamehameha's instructor in

war-

rior arts was so captivated by his ali'i's skill in battle that he was almost killed. Desha writes, "At times they were in the midst of a multitude opponents. See OLAKINO on page 18

ol akino MIMIIIM /

By Claire Hughes, Dr.P.H., R.D.

TWo lUc e^iiai , ^°Wq//q

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OLAKINO from page 9 Kamehameha cxhibitcd his skill at warding off spears, and Kekūhaupi'o was almost struck by a spear because he was beguilcd by watching the skill of his ali'i. The many points of the spears were indeed as "bath water' to Kamehameha. At times 10 spcars would fly at him at the same time, and with his spear he would ward them off, and at other tim.es he shrugged them off so that thcy fell behind. At times he would seize a spear and break it, perhaps

doing this to instill fear in the enemy . While Kekūhaupi'o was gazing at. the unexcelled skill of his ali'i, he let his guard down and was struck by the spear of a certain warrior. It glided along his eheek causing blood to flow, but it was only a skin wound, although his face was scarred by it." The physical at.tribut.es valued by Hawaiian ancestors and adinired by foreigners are more than skin-deep. They require discipline and 1 i f e - long good habits that promote good health. ■