Hoʻokupu

Gifts to the Hawaiian god Lono during the hookupu protocol presentation of a Makahiki festival at Bellows Air Force Station in Waimanalo, Hawaii, 2010

Hoʻokupu is a Hawaiian language term for gifts and offerings. The ceremony dates back hundreds of years, to a time when the average Hawaiian subsisted on manual labor, with little-to-no financial assets. Their gifts were literally the fruits of their personal labors to the Hawaiian aliʻi (rulers), or to visiting royalty. Through time, the gifts became more monetary based and a part of the monarch's wealth. Although they were allowed to approach the monarch with the gifts, they were handed to a royal attendant so as not to touch the aliʻi.^[1] In 1869, the visiting Duke of Edinburgh Prince Alfred was accorded a hoʻokupu by Kamehameha V, and broke with protocol by reaching out to touch any gift-giver who wished to shake his hand.^[2]

The gift protocol is still done for Lono during the Makahiki festival and for celebrations related to Hawaiian kings.^[3]

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References

^ "It's Time For Hookupu". The Honolulu Advertiser at Newspapers.com. October 8, 1950. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
^ "Hawaiian hookupu for visiting Duke of Edinburgh". The Hawaiian Gazette at Newspapers.com. August 4, 1869. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
^ Dole, Sanford B. (1913). "A Hookupu". Annual Report. Hawaiian Historical Society: 18–20.

[1] "It's Time For Hookupu". The Honolulu Advertiser at Newspapers.com. October 8, 1950. Retrieved November 16, 2018.

[2] "Hawaiian hookupu for visiting Duke of Edinburgh". The Hawaiian Gazette at Newspapers.com. August 4, 1869. Retrieved November 16, 2018.

[3] Dole, Sanford B. (1913). "A Hookupu". Annual Report. Hawaiian Historical Society: 18–20.

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