ABSTRACT
The 'discovery' of the Hawaiian Islands in 1778 by Captain James Cook began the rapid transformation of the Hawaiian culture. The Hawaiian form of religion has been termed archaic by anthropologists. Its characteristic feature was the emergence of a true cult with a complexity of gods, priests, worship, sacrifices, and divined and priestly kingship. Hawaiians believed mana was a quality that was divine in origin. It manifested itself in a person having power over people, animals, or inanimate objects. The social and political systems of Hawaiians were closely aligned with the religious system. Although many Hawaiians called themselves Christian, aspects of the traditional religion, particularly the worship of family deities and the use of priests, continued for some families. When the Makahiki festival, part of the worship of the god lono, ceased due to the end of the kapu system, Hawaiians stopped participating in many of the games that were related to warfare.
