Pohaku a Kane

Kii: Ku'ialuaopuna

Traditional K.K. Ku'ialuaopuna

E hu ia mai ka lani me ka honua e Kanenuiakea

Eia na pulapula o ka lani, ka hu, ke kamaaina, me ke alii

E hu mai ko kakou aloha no neia aina, me ka aina ala

E kapae ke kapu o ke kanaka, ke kapu o ka wa i hala

E ho mai i ke ola, e ola mai, e ola mai. e hoola mai!

Bring together the heavens and the earth, oh Kane of the great expanse

Here are the descendants of the sky, the multitude, those of the lands, and the chiefs

Our love for these lands swells within us.

Set aside the taboos of man and the taboos of the past

Grant us life, life, life, give life!

In the daily prayers of our ancestors, Kane was the main akua that man looked to for a good start to one's day and a long and healthy life. Kane, the giver of life and creation, was worshipped as the ancestor of man and chiefs. Sacred pohaku were set aside near the hale for man to reconcile and restore the connection to Kane that was weakened by man's actions or mistakes. Pohaku a Kane was an upright, singular, large stone that stood as a kuahu or altar itself in ancient days of old. Sometimes, this large upright stone was placed on a series of smaller stones that formed an altar. This singular upright stone or a heap of stones was also considered a place of refuge for the ohana. Greenery of ti, olena, and other special plants adorned the area around this pohaku or ahu. Here at these pohaku a Kane, offerings of food, fish, or plants were made with prayers. These stones held mana, or spiritual power, and were considered to be divine. These pohaku were pre-selected, through a dream, vision, or by intention.