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Mahiole: Feathered Helmet

 The Big Island, Hawai‘i, is represented by a red mahiole. Red is the color of the ‘ōhia lehua flower. The mahiole is a helmet worn by chiefly ali‘i warriors. Kamehameha the Great was the king from the island of Hawai‘i who unified all of the islands into the Hawaiian Kingdom. The red mahiole represents King Kamehameha, and his home island.

Makau: Fishhook

The island of Maui is named for the legendary god.  Pink is the color of the lokelani rose. Maui is represented by a pink fish hook. The constellation Scorpio is called the Great Hook of Maui.

One story about Maui says that he created the Hawaiian Islands when he was out in the ocean with his brothers. Maui was known as being a trickster, and decided to play a trick on his brothers. When the brothers were facing forward paddling their canoe, Maui threw his great hook attached to a rope off the back of the canoe. The hook sunk down and anchored to the sea floor. Maui goaded his brothers to pull harder on their paddles and get a move on. Maui’s brothers paddled so hard that they pulled up the Hawaiian Islands from the bottom of the ocean.

Pahu: Drum

Kukui is the flower of Molokai. The island is represented by a green drum, or pahu. The pahu drum is a large instrument often carved from a coconut trunk or other large tree. It produces a deep resonant sound that one can feel in the body. It is used for sacred hula. Molokai has a legendary reputation for powerful chants and spiritual teaching. The island is still a deep repository of Hawaiian knowledge today.

“Molokai Pule O‘o,” means Molokai of powerful prayers. Legends say that the people of Molokai could repel invading armies by coming together at the shore and chanting sacred prayers. Molokai is surrounded by strong ocean currents, and its name means “swirling waters.” The people’s legendary spiritual power swept away attackers before they could land their ships.

Kiʻi Pōhaku: Petroglyph

 The orange kaunaoa is the flower of Lāna’i. The island is represented by an orange dog petroglyph. Petroglyphs, images carved in stone, can be found throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Lāna‘i is known for having a large number of surviving petroglyphs. Luahiwa in central Lāna‘i has a particularly rich collection of petroglyphs. Images of dogs carved in stone are relatively rare, except on Lāna‘i where they’re more common.

Lānaʻi was home to gods and a battleground where priests from Molokai and Lānaʻi fought with powerful magic. The island was considered to be haunted by uncanny spiritual power and had an ancient reputation for being inhabited by evil man-eating spirits. The island was made safe for ordinary people to inhabit after a prince from Maui named Kaululaʻau conquered the evil spirits. Lānaʻi means “day of conquest.”

Nā Hōkū: Stars

 The silvery hinahina is the flower of Kaho‘olawe. The island of Kaho‘olawe is represented by the constellation Makali‘i in a gray sky. Makali‘i is also known as the constellation the Pleiades. When Makali‘i rises in the east at the same time the sun is setting in the west the Hawaiian new year, Makahiki, begins.

Kaho‘olawe was an ancient school for navigators. The view from the central peak of the island is a perfect place to teach student navigators the path of the stars, and the winds and currents between the Hawaiian Islands. The ocean channel between Kahoʻolawe and Lānaʻi is called Ke-ala-i-Kahiki, which means “the path to Tahiti.” The strong currents in the channel flow southward giving any journey to Tahiti a powerful head start.

Lei Niho Palaoa: Whale-tooth Pendant

 The yellow ‘ilima is the flower of O‘ahu. A yellow whale tooth pendant, called a lei niho palaoa, represents O‘ahu. The lei niho palaoa is a Hawaiian symbol of authority. The pendant is carved from the tooth of a sperm whale. The shape represents a tongue. The tongue shaped pendant is worn around the neck suspended by strands of braided human hair. The hair comes from the subjects of the ali‘i wearing the pendant. The lei niho palaoa shows the wearer has the authority to speak over the people. O‘ahu was chosen as the capitol of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and later became the capitol of the State of Hawai‘i. The lei niho palaoa represents O‘ahu as the seat of government.

Pōhaku kuʻi ʻai puka: Ring-shaped Poi Pounder

Kaua‘i is represented by the purple flowers of the mokihana. A purple ring shaped poi pounder represents Kaua‘i. Hawai‘i was settled by two distinct main groups of Polynesians. The first group came from Hiva, the Marquesas. The second group came later from Tahiti. The Tahiti group culture grew to dominate most of the Hawaiian Islands, except Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau. The ring shaped poi pounder is something unique to Kaua‘i. It is a modified version of the two handed pounder used in Hiva. Even Kamehameha never conquered Kaua‘i. Instead, the King of Kaua‘i agreed to join the Hawaiian Kingdom through diplomatic negotiation. The ring shaped pounder represents the unique culture of Kaua‘i.

Momi: Dove Snail

 Ni‘ihau is represented by a white momi snail shell. Ni‘ihau is famous for its elaborate momi sea snail shell lei. These necklaces are made of thousands of tiny jewel like shells that come in a variety of colors. Another variety is the Kahelelani shell, which is smaller and even more precious. This shell is named after the first king of Niʻihau who lived in the 17t^h century.

Niʻihau used to be renown throughout the Pacific for the exceptional quality of their woven sedge mats. The makaloa sedge used to grow along the shores of three intermittent lakes. Changing times led to the eventual extinction of the mat making.

Even though it is a small island, Niʻihau is known for its fierce independence. This small dry island has very few resources, but the tenacity of its people has allowed them to persist in living in traditional Hawaiian ways. Niʻihau is the only island where all of its residents speak Hawaiian as their primary language.