Kumulipo
Also known as: The Kumulipo, Hawaiian Creation Chant
The Kumulipo is a Hawaiian cosmogonic chant describing the origins of the cosmos, gods, and chiefly genealogies through sixteen poetic sections.
Description
The Kumulipo is a monumental Hawaiian creation chant that recounts the origins of the universe and the genealogical descent of Hawaiian ali‘i (chiefs). Structured into sixteen wā, or eras, it traces the unfolding of existence from darkness into light, from the birth of sea creatures and plants to the emergence of gods and humans. Both a sacred hymn and a genealogical record, it embodies Hawaiian cosmology, ritual authority, and political legitimacy, connecting ruling chiefs to divine origins. The chant also reflects a deep ecological awareness, depicting interwoven relationships between species and environments. King Kalākaua had the Kumulipo published in 1889, both as a preservation effort and as an assertion of Hawaiian cultural sovereignty.
Historiography
The Kumulipo survived primarily as an oral chant passed down by kahuna and chanters before being committed to writing in the 18th century. King Kalākaua commissioned its publication in 1889, asserting its political value as a genealogy of chiefs. Queen Liliʻuokalani later produced an English translation. Scholarly studies since the 19th century have debated its symbolic cosmology, its structure as a genealogical hymn, and its role as a ritual text in Hawaiian chiefly culture.
Date Notes
Composed orally long before European contact; first transcribed in the 18th century; most widely circulated version published by King Kalākaua in 1889
Major Characters
- Kumulipo
- Poʻele
- Wākea
- Papa
- Lono
Myths
- Cosmogony from the Primordial Night
- Genealogy of Gods and Chiefs
- Emergence of Life in Stages
Facts
- The Kumulipo contains over 2000 lines of Hawaiian poetry.
- It is divided into 16 wā, or ages, beginning with darkness (Pō).
- The chant was published under King Kalākaua in 1889.
- Queen Liliʻuokalani translated the Kumulipo into English in 1897.
- It functions as both a cosmogonic hymn and a chiefly genealogy.
- The chant links Hawaiian rulers to divine origins, legitimizing authority.
- The first seven wā focus on cosmic and natural creation; the latter nine on human genealogy.
- Its structure reflects ecological interdependence, naming species and their order of emergence.
- The Kumulipo is performed in ritual contexts, especially for aliʻi.
- It remains a cornerstone of Hawaiian cultural identity and sovereignty.