Kapu
Kapu is a Hawaiian term referring to sacred prohibitions and rules that governed conduct, access, and ritual in ancient Hawaii. The word, meaning sacred or forbidden, underpinned a comprehensive system that shaped religion, politics, and daily life. Kapu determined what could be eaten, who could touch whom or what objects, where people could travel, and when certain activities were allowed. Enforcement rested with priests (kahuna) and the chiefly class (ali‘i), and violations could invite ritual penalties, ostracism, or death.
The kapu system organized society into hierarchical ranks and roles. It defined separation between men and
In the early 19th century, the kapu system underwent a dramatic transformation. In 1819, King Kamehameha II
Today, kapu persists as a historical concept and in Hawaiian language as taboo or sacred prohibition. It