​Akamu and the Revenge of the Matu

Chapter 27 Questions

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1. Moko means to pound or punch with a fist. Mokomoko means what?

2. What do you think is the importance of the evil faces the Hawaiian warriors make as they go into battle?

3. The ancient Hawaiians did not have written words, so they memorized ideas and thoughts using chants called mele. Why were the mele so important?

4.  Why would the Matu language be so similar to Hawaiian? Why would it be different?

5. A drumbeat signaled the wahine to begin hurling rock from the steep cliffs. Name four ways the ancient Hawaiians communicated from long distance.

6. How do you say “help” in Hawaiian?  The word is a combination of the words koo meaning to brace, and the word kua meaning back. Brace back.

7. What simple fact makes riding a hōlua sleds much more dangerous than riding a sled on snow?

8. The elite Hawaiian warriors would wear helmets made from round gourds with openings for the mouth and eyes. How do you think they were both similar and different than modern football helmets?

9. What were difficulties inherent to elite Hawaiian warriors wearing elaborate battle helmets, what were advantages to such helmets?

10. The idea of choosing champions from each army to fight and decide the fate of the battle is not new. Can you think of any other nations or countries that also used that system? What is the problem with that approach to war? What are the advantages?