- Note: this list of key facts is under construction, as evidenced by the fact that it (the list) is not very long.
Key fact #1: the deities of this religion
The native Hawaiian religion (which www.Hawaiian.faith is about) has over 500 deities – but, of these 500+ deities, there are four main ones. So here are the four principal gods (Akua Nui):
- Kāne (pronounced ‘Kah-neh’): Creator god associated with life, freshwater, forests, and sunlight. Often considered the highest deity.
- Kanaloa (pronounced ‘Kah-nah-low-ah’): God of the ocean, healing, and the underworld; frequently paired with Kāne as a complementary force.
- Kū (pronounced ‘koo’): God of war, strength, and male endeavors; also linked to agriculture and fishing in some contexts.
- Lono (pronounced ‘Low-no’): God of peace, fertility, rainfall, and agriculture; connected to the Makahiki festival and harvest seasons.The Four Principal Gods (Akua Nui)
The above four major deities represent fundamental forces of nature and life. However, as mentioned, there is a broader pantheon, with this Hawaiian religion also recognizing over 500 lesser deities (kapua), each governing specific natural elements, ancestral connections, or localized phenomena (for example, Pele (pronounced ‘Peh-leh’) as the volcano goddess). This reflects a worldview where divinity permeates all aspects of existence.
In summary: the Hawaiian spiritual tradition features four primary gods – Kāne (creation), Kanaloa (ocean), Kū (strength), and Lono (peace) – who embody core life forces. Alongside them, hundreds of specialized deities (kapua) oversee natural and ancestral realms, illustrating a deeply interconnected cosmology.
Key fact #2: afterlife beliefs
Our religion teaches that good people, when they die, go to a paradise-esque realm of happiness for eternity. This realm of happiness is called Po. Po is described as:
- a realm of abundant natural resources: ever-flowering plants, perpetual harvests, lush forests, flowing water, and fertile lands—abundant with awa (sacred drink), ‘ulu (breadfruit), and other manifestations of life force (mana).
- a place offering a peaceful existence among ancestors and deities, with freedom from suffering, illness, or strife
- a place offering spiritual fulfillment and harmony with the cosmos
In contrast, bad people, when they die, go to a realm of suffering for eternity. This bad place is called Lua-o-Milu. Examples of people who are sent here are “lawless and irreligious” people, and those who have violated sacred laws (kapu). Lua-o-Milu is described as:
- a barren, waterless land of perpetual twilight, with punishment centered on torment and deprivation—endless thirst, hunger, and desolation in a shadowy, lifeless realm with no indication of release or redemption.
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a place where punishments include eternal servitude or repetitive, futile tasks.
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diseased and rotting food is offered, symbolizing spiritual decay.
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a place representing separation from ancestral connections and divine favor.