Culture and Human Impact
People have been living on the Hawaiian Islands for over 1,600 years, and had migrated from the Marquesas Islands. During the 400 years of isolation between south Polynesia, a very unique culture developed. Hawai'i was a highly arranged society with strictly maintained ranks. The Chiefs ruled over the land, the Kahuna were experts on religious rituals, and the maka'ainana were commoners who farmed and fished. They also had the Kauwa, as the lowest class or rank, making them outcasts or slaves. Even though they were different ranks, everybody still followed the same laws and still worshiped the same gods. They would do anything to please their gods, which can be shown within their oli (chant), mele (song), and hula (dance). But all of their culture and history somewhat disappeared after Captain James Hook arrived in 1778 and introduced the rest of the world to Hawai'i.