Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 10, 1 October 2003 — Living in balance encourages physical strength and flexibility like the chiefs of old [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Living in balance encourages physical strength and flexibility like the chiefs of old

Descriptions of early Hawaiians indicate that they, and the chiefs in particular, were taller and more robust than the average European of the time. The ancestors were noted for their work capacity and endurance. From this we ean conclude that they were well-developed and condi-

tioned to do physieal work. The potential to develop muscles is, in large part, hereditary and is controlled by hormonal and muscle eell genetics. If the genetics

are right, a person will be able to build up large muscles by working against resistance, such as weight-training or repeatedly lifting heavy objects. Bulking up muscles gives added strength and protection to the bone structure, however, it does reduce flexibility. Physical flexibility is the ability to bend and recover without injury.

Hawaiian warriors of old excelled in their ability to duck, twist, bend and parry. To engage in the hand-to-hand fighting on Hawai'i's battlegrounds, these warriors had to develop skill, strength and agility, as well as physieal endurance and mental fitness. Flexibility gave warriors the desired suppleness to dodge spears and parry an opponent's strikes. Many warrior chiefs were quite tall, yet

they were agile and outstanding athletes. During the many months of preparation for battle, warriors worked on developing both their physical and mental skills. Throughout their training, they

fished and farmed to p r o v i d e

sound diet for

maintaining their physical prowess. Stephen Desha's Kamehameha anā His Warrior Kekūhaupi'o, translated into English by Frances N. Frazier, is filled with mo'olelo on the disciplined training and life style of our ancestors. In Desha's descriptions, he writes of the great flexibility and physical agility Kamehameha and Kekūhaupi'o possessed. The author

portrays these fearless warriors as moving like twisting winds against the opposing forces in battle. Those who witnessed them in action were fearful. Though outnumbered by the Hilo warriors in the "Battle of the Bitter Rain" in Hilo, Kamehameha and Kekūhaupi'o were said to have been genuinely fearless: "Pai'ea

was like a whirlwind in dodging the spears furiously hurled by the multitude of Hilo warriors. Kekūhaupi'o followed closely in the steps of his ali'i, doing as he did. It is said that Kamehameha and Kekūhaupi'o were like a great army when they met their opponents. When Kamehameha had his hands on a warrior, because of his knowledge of lua taught him by his instructor, that man was lifted and broken. When Kekūhaupi'o had an opponent in his hands, he broke the spine of that man, and he could be heard saying to his ali'i: 'E Kalani, here is the man.' If a man was held in Kamehameha's hands, he was in

terrible trouble. ('A'ole he nao 'ai ka papa'a — whieh means 'nothing but burnt food to eat'). Great numbers of spears Hew at Kamehameha and Kekūhaupi'o, and they were like bath water. Their alertness and strength in battle lasted for three days, then, fresh Maui warriors entered into the battle against Kamehameha and his weary forces." In the "Battle of the Bitter Rain,"

Kamehameha's army numbered 20,000 men. Kamehameha and his famous warrior Kekūhaupi'o led three mano of warriors (12,000) over land. Ke'eaumoku and four chiefs commanded their fleet of canoes bearing two mano (8,000) into battle against Keawema'uhili and Keōua in Hilo. Early on, Kamehameha's forces, under Ka'iana's command, pushed Keōua's army back. When a bitter and biting rain fell, Keōua's warriors were able to escape defeat. They vanished from sight in the thick and heavy rain. However, Hilo's Keawema'uhili had enlisted aid from Maui's Chief Kahekili, and upon arrival of reinforcements from Maui, the battle turned against the great warrior. Up to this point, the fearlessness and skill of Kamehameha's army had prevailed. Slowly, Kamehameha's warriors, fatigued by three days of prolonged combat, fell back to the very spot where the Maui warriors were joining the opposition from the sea. The lesson we ean learn from the ancestors is that having halanee is paramount. In addition to developing muscles for strength and endurance, we need to be flexible to be athletically superior. Developing mental strength is as important as physical strength. Sound nutrition provides the basis for a sound and balanced lifestyle. ■

t h e m - sel ves with a

Ol AKINO

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By Claire Hughes Dr.PH., R.D.