Notes on the Polynesian Calendar.

The Polynesians divided the years into seasons, months and days. The seasons, or kau, of the year were generally two: the rainy or winter season, and the dry or summer season, varying according to the particular situation of the group, either north or south of the equator. The commencement of the seasons, however, were regulated by the rising of the Pleiades, or Makalii, at the setting of the sun. Thus in the Society group the year was divided in Makarii-i-ria,—Pleiades above the horizon,—and Makarii-i-raro, Pleiades below: the first from November to May, the latter from May to November. In the Hawaiian group the year was divided into two seasons, hooilo, the rainy season, from about the 20th of November to 20th of May, and kau, the dry season from 20th May to 20th November. In the Samoan, tau or tausanga meant originally a period of six months, and afterwards was employed to express the full year of twelve months as in the Tonga group. There are traces, also, on the Society group of the year having been divided into three seasons or tau, like the Egyptians, Arabs and Greeks, though the arrangement of the months within each season seems to me to have been arbitrary and probably local.

In regard to the divisions of the year by months, the Polynesians counted by twelve and thirteen months, the former obtaining in the Tonga, Samoan and Hawaiian groups, the latter in the Marquesan and Society groups. Each month consisted of thirty days. It is known that the Hawaiians, who counted twelve months of thirty days each, intercalated five days at the end of the month Welehu, about the 20th December, which were tabu days, dedicated to the festival of Lono, after which the new year began with the first day of the month Makalii, which day was properly called Maka-hiki (equivalent to “commencement”) and afterwards became the conventional term for a year in the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Society groups. There is evidence that the Marquesans at one time counted the year by the lunar months and called it a puni, a circle, a round, a revolution, but how they managed either this or the year of thirteen months to correspond with the divisions by seasons or the solar year I am not informed, Tah. Teeri sometimes dropped.

That a computation by lunar months preceded the other is evident from the various names of different days in the month, but both computations were evidently far older than the arrival of the Polynesians in the Pacific.

To this may be added that the Polynesians counted time also by the nights—po. Tomorrow was a-po-po (Haw.) lit. the night’s night. Yesterday was po-i-nehi-nei, the past night. Po-akahi, po-alua, etc., the first, the second day. Po was the generic term for day and ao or daylight was but the complement of the full po. Po-a-ao, night and day, etc. This method of reckoning by nights ascends to the hoariest antiquity. The unbroken Aryans counted by nights, and the custom prevailed late into historic times among the Hindus, the Iranians, the Greeks, the Saxons, and the Scandinavians. (Pictet v. 2, p. 588.) The Babylonians believed that the world had been created at the autumnal equinox.—(Lenormant, I, p. 451.) [[331]]

HAWAIIAN AND SAMOAN CALENDAR, COMPARATIVE.

Hawaiian Samoan
Makalii from 20 December to 20 January Utuva-mua
Kaelo from,, 20 January to,, 20 February Utuva-muli
Kaulua from,, 20 February to,, 20 March Faaafu
Nana from,, 20 March to,, 20 April Lo
Welo from,, 20 April to,, 20 May Aununu
Ikiiki from,, 20 May to,, 20 June Oloamanu
Kaaona from,, 20 June to,, 20 July Palolomua
Hinaiaeleele from,, 20 July to,, 20 August Palolomuli
Hilinehu from,, 20 August to,, 20 September Mulifa
Hilinama from,, 20 September to,, 20 October Lotuaga
Ikuwa from,, 20 October to,, 20 November Taumafamua
Welehu from,, 20 November to,, 20 December Toe taumafa

Tahitian names for seasons are: poai, winter or dry season; ruamaoro, the summer solstice in December; ruapoto, the winter solstice in June.

DAYS OF THE MONTH, COMPARATIVE.[1]

Marquesas (Fatuhiwa) Society Isls. (Huahine) Hawaiian
1. Ku-nui Hiro-hiti Hilo
2. Ku-hawa Hoata Hoaka }
3. Hoaka Hami-ami-mua Ku-kahi } la kapu
4. Maheamakahi Hami-ami-roto Ku-lua
5. Maheamawaena Hami-ami-muri Ku-kolu
6. Koekoe-kahi Ore-ore-mua Ku-pau or Ku-ha
7. Koekoe-waena Ore-ore-muri Ole-ku-kahi
8. Poipoi-haapao Tamatea Ole-ku-lua
9. Huna Huna Ole-ku-kolu
10. A’i Ari Ole-ku-pau
11. Huka Manaru Huna
12. Meha’u Hua Mohalu }
13. Ohua Maitu Hua } la kapu
14. Akua Hotu Akua
15. Ohuku-nui Marai Hoku
16. Ohuku-manae Turu-tea Mahealani or Malani
17. Oku’u Raau-mua Kulu
18. Oaniwa Raau-roto Laau-ku-kahi
19. Mekahi Raau-muri Laau-ku-lua
20. Kaau Ore-ore-mua Laau-pau or Kukolu
21. Kaekae-kahi Ore-ore-roto Ole-ku-kahi
22. Waena Ore-ore-muri Ole-ku-lua
23. Haapao Taaroa-mua Ole-pau or Kukolu }
24. Hanaokahi Taaroa-roto Kaloa-ku-kahi } la kapu
25. Wawena Taaroa-muri Kaloa-ku-lua
26. Haapaa Tane Kaloa-pau or Kukolu
27. Puhiwa Roo-nui Kane }
28. Kane Roo-maori Lono } la kapu
29. Oma-nui Mutu Mauli
30. Onamate Terie Muku

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NAMES OF MONTHS, COMPARATIVE.

Marquesas (Fatuhiwa)Society Isls. (Huaheine) Hawaiian.
1. Kuhua Avarahu Nana, March, plenty of malolo, flying fish.
2. Katuna Faaahu Welo, April-May, end of winter.
3. Ehua Pipiri Ikiiki, May when the Huhui (seven stars) sets.
4. Nanaua Taaoa Kaaona, June.
5. Oaomanu Aununu 6th mo. Hinaiaeleele, July, when the ohia ai is ripe.
6. Awea Apaapa 7th mo. (May?) Hilinehu (Mahoemua), August.
7. Ehua Paroro-mua Hilinama (Mahoe-hope), September.
8. Weo Paroro-muri Ikuwa, October, end of summer.
9. Uaoa Muriaha Welehu, November.
10. Uahaameau Hiaia Makalii, 6th month—December.
11. Pohe Tema Kaelo, January, nuhe worms hatched.
12. Napea Te-eri Kaulua, February, arrival of anae along shore.
13. Makau Te-tai (Dec.)

Another computation commenced the year at the month Apaapa (middle of May) and gave different names to several of the months. The year was also divided into two seasons called by the “Matarii” stars (Pleiades)—Matarii i ria (Pleiades above the horizon in the evening) and Matarii i raro (Pleiades below). The year was divided also into three seasons: (1) te tau—autumn, commenced with te Tae or December till Faaahu; (2) te tau miti vahi, season of high sea; (3) te tau poai, winter or season of drought.

The Hawaiian year was again subdivided into four smaller seasons or divisions: (1) ke laa-make, (2) ka hooilo, (3) ka laa-ulu, (4) kau.

Summer (kau) began when the sun stood directly over an island. The winter (hooilo) began when the sun moved from there southward.

Where the ocean and sky meet, the Hawaiians designated as Hiki-ku; above Kahiki, Papanuu; above Papanuu, Papalani; directly above Kahiki, Kapuiholanikekuina.

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HOURS OF THE DAY.

The Hawaiian day commenced at 12 midnight and ran till next midnight. There being only twelve months in the Hawaiian year of 30 days each, or in all 360 days, five days were added at the end of the month Welehu so that the civil or solar year began on the 6th day of the month Makalii. The feast of Lono was celebrated during the five intercalary days. For eight months of the year there were four kapu nights and days (Ku, Hua, Kaloa, Kane) in each month. The four kapu times of the month were also called Na la kapu Kauila.

The Hawaiian division of the night was: 1. Kihi, 6 p.m.; 2. Pili, 9 p.m.; 3. Kau, 12 m.n.; 4. Pilipuka, 3 a.m.; 5. Kihipuka, 6 a.m.

The Javanese, borrowing from the Hindus, divided the entire twenty-four hours into five portions, each of which had a particular name. Another division was into nine parts, four for the day and five for the night.—(Rienzi.) [[333]]

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THE WORDS: DAY, MONTH, YEAR, COMPARATIVE.

Day: Malay, ari or hari; Javanese, aivan; Sunda, powi; Tahiti, ra or la; Hawaiian, la and ao; Marquesan, a; Hervey group, ra; Tonga, aho; Samoa, aso; Stewart and Howe groups, atho.

Month: Malay, bulau, (also moon); Javanese, wulau; Sunda, aulau; Tahiti, marama, awae; Hawaiian, malama, mahina (moon); Marquesan, ma’ama; Tonga, mahina; Samoan, masina; Stewart and Howe, merima (moon).

Year: Malay, taun, tahun; Tonga, tau (season); Hawaiian, makahiki, kau (a season, period).

The week of seven days was introduced into Java by the Hindus. Previously the week was divided into five days, like that of the Mexicans. Their names were: (1) laggi, blue, or east; (2) pahina, red, or south; (3) pon, yellow, or west; (4) wagi, black or north; (5) kliwon, mixed colour, the hearth or center. The designating of the north by the black color indicates, according to Mr. Rienzi, that this denomination originated in Hindustan where the sun is never to northward, as in Java or other equinoxial countries.

The ancient Javanese divided the year into thirty periods called woukou, or 360 days, and also into twelve months of unequal length, and the year ended with intercalary days.

At Bali, the year commences about the month of April. The Braminical civil year was the lunar—that of Saka or Salivana—and the priests calculated the intercalary days.

The Javanese have a cycle of seven years, similar to that of Tibet and Siam. The names of the years are mostly of Sanscrit origin and are: 1. manghara, the lobster or crab; 2. menda, the goat; 3. kalabang, the centipede; 4. wichitra, the worm; 5. mintouna, the fish; 6. was, the scorpion; 7. maicha, the buffalo.

In speaking of the Javanese cycle of twelve years and the correspondence of the names of the years with the names of the Sanscrit zodiac, Mr. Rienzi adds: “Ainsi nous retrouvons en Océanie le zodiaque de l’Asie centrale que l’Europe a également adopté”—(Océanie, Vol. I, p. 168.)

In ancient Egypt and Arabia the year was divided into three seasons. This was the ancient arrangement in the Society islands. The Egyptian year began with the winter season in or about November, so also in Arabia. The first was the season of sowing and planting; the second was the summer harvesting and reaping; the third the season of waters, time of inundating the Nile.—(Glidden’s Ancient Egypt.)

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NAMES OF STARS IN HAWAIIAN.

  • Hikianalia
  • Hikikaulonomeha
  • Nana-muaCastor and Pollux
    Nana-hope
  • Hoku-loa Morning star
  • Hoku-ula Mars
  • Hikikaulono
  • Poloula (also Pohina)
  • Nauaakeaihaku
  • Kupuku 7 stars
  • Hoku-aea, a planet in distinction from a fixed star.
  • Haunakelekele
  • Makaimoimo
  • Makaamoamo
  • Makaalohilohi[[334]]
  • Manalo or Mananalo. Same as Venus and Hokuloa, when morning star, as called Hoku-ao.
  • Kaawela Jupiter
  • Holoholopinaau 12 stars; also Mars
  • Hanakalani
  • Uliuli
  • Polapola
  • Makalii Pleiades? (in Tahitian)
  • Kokoiki
  • Humu 3 stars
  • Kaoea 4 starsSouthern Cross? or Newe
    Kaulu (na Hui)
  • Kaulua
  • Kukui
  • Konamaukuku
  • Kiapaakai, Noholoa,North Star
    Kumau, Hokupaa,
  • Ikaika (same as Kaawela) Jupiter
  • Mulehu, Poloahilani (same as Polula)
  • Makaholowaa
  • Kanukuokapuahi
  • Kapuahi
  • Paeloahiki
  • Anianekalani
  • Pulelehuauli
  • Pulelehuakea
  • Pulelehuakawaewae
  • Makahaiaku
  • Makahaiwaa
  • Kahaikahai
  • Kupualaloakalani
  • Kaluokaoko
  • Kawaomaka’lii
  • Lehuakona
  • Huhui 6 stars Pleiades?
  • Kao 6 stars

Another note gives the following: (See Ka Hae Hawaii, Dec. 5, 1860.)

Mercury Kawela
Venus Naholoholo, Kaawela (when evening star)
Mananalo, Hokuloa (when morning star)
Jupiter Hoomananalonalo, Kaawela
Mars Holoholopinaau, Hokuula
Saturn Makulu, Naholoholo

Kama-devi—in Hindu “all-prolific cow.” Kama, god of love. Another name in the Carnatic was Mun-Moden or also simply Madan. Another of his names is Makara-Ketu, “the fish Ketu.” “Makara” means the horned shark, and is the name of the sign Capricorn which sometimes terminates in the tail of a fish. Mackery is the fish-god or Capricorn of the zodiac. In Hindu solar system Ketu is one of the nodes. In Persian it is Keet.

In Polynesian astronomy Matarii or Makalii corresponded in Tahiti to the Pleiades, and their rising or setting divided the year in two parts. In Hawaii the red star in the constellation Kao was called Makalii after Hawaiiloa’s navigator. Makalii also indicates Castor and Pollux, though elsewhere they are called Nana-mua and Nana-hope, and in Tahitian they are called Na Ainana, the twins. Makali, to bait a hook, angle for fish.

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POINTS OF THE COMPASS.

In Hawaiian, going to the north or northeast against the wind was called going up, iluna; to the south or southwest, ilalo.

Hawaiian expressions for arrival here from abroad, are: Mai ka lewa mai; mai ke kua mai o ka moku.

In the Tonga dialect: hahagi (from hagi, up) means north side of an island, also east side; hihifo (from hifo, down) south, also west side; mua, centre; tocalau, to the west. (Toca, to ground a boat; shallow water; coral reef.) [[335]]

[1] The four Hawaiian kapu times of the month were called na la kapu kauila. [↑]

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