Hawaiian warfare

E433332

Hawaiian warfare refers to the traditional military practices, strategies, weapons, and cultural customs of pre-contact Native Hawaiian societies engaged in inter-island and intra-island conflict.

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All labels observed (2)

Label Occurrences
Hawaiian warfare canonical 1
Kamehameha I’s forces 1

Statements (71)

Predicate Object
instanceOf aspect of Native Hawaiian culture
traditional warfare system
associatedWith aliʻi (Hawaiian nobility) NERFINISHED
kahuna (priests, experts)
koa (warriors)
mōʻī (high chiefs, kings)
associatedWithDeity Kū (war god) NERFINISHED
Kūkaʻilimoku (war aspect of Kū) NERFINISHED
changedBy European and American advisors
introduction of cannons
introduction of firearms
culturalAspect emphasis on personal bravery
importance of genealogy of warriors
ritual treatment of enemy remains
use of war chants and mele
declinedDuring 19th century
documentedIn Hawaiian oral traditions
early European explorers’ accounts
missionary writings
goal control of resources
political dominance
revenge and honor
territorial expansion
hasComponent battle tactics
diplomacy and alliance-making
fortifications
intelligence gathering
logistics
military organization
naval operations
religious ritual
weapon technology
hasRitual divination before campaigns
kapu (sacred prohibitions) related to war
offerings to war gods
pre-battle religious ceremonies
historicalExample Battle of Kepaniwai NERFINISHED
Battle of Mokuʻōhai NERFINISHED
Battle of Nuʻuanu NERFINISHED
unification wars of Kamehameha I NERFINISHED
influencedBy Polynesian warfare traditions
involves inter-island conflict
intra-island conflict
involvesUnit chief’s personal guard
elite warrior bands
levied commoner warriors
locatedIn Hawaiian Islands NERFINISHED
practicedBy Native Hawaiians NERFINISHED
regulatedBy chiefly authority
kapu system
timePeriod early post-contact period
pre-contact period
usesStructure heiau luakini (sacrificial temples)
hilltop fortifications
pūʻuhonua (places of refuge)
stone walls and breastworks
usesTactic ambushes
decapitation of enemies as display
flanking maneuvers
mass infantry charges
psychological warfare
siege of fortified places
usesWeapon ihe (spear)
leiomano (shark-tooth weapon) NERFINISHED
newa (stone club)
pololū (long spear)
pāhoa (dagger)
slings (maʻa)
throwing stones
war canoes
wooden clubs

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

lua (Hawaiian martial art) associatedWith Hawaiian warfare
Battle of Nuʻuanu combatant Hawaiian warfare
this entity surface form: Kamehameha I’s forces