AboutMalia Expertise Aloha,
I can answer I would say about 99 % of all questions relating to Hawai`i.
Experience I work for tour agencies as a tour guide so have a wonderful island experience especially from the view of travelers and newcomers to the islands. I am also a high school language teacher.
Question QUESTION: Hello Malia. I am doing a report for school about the customs and traditions about the Hawaiian culture of a funeral and the processes about death and dying. I was wondering if you can help me answer some of these questions.
How is the funeral service prepared?
What are the preperations?
Are there any differences if it was a funeral service for a male or a female?
Are there any kinds of special clothing or a certain type of clothing that people at the ceremony has to wear?
What happens at a funeral? (like what do you see, smell, hear, etc.)
When does it usually take place and for how long?
What about status? Like a wealthy family vs. a middle class family funeral. Are there any differences?
Thanks so much!
ANSWER: Aloha,
How is the funeral service prepared?
It depends on if the family is on the island or not, if they are, the whole family chips in, if not, then the extended family = meaning friends help and prepare food for after the service and take care of making flower leis ( necklaces, headbands ) etc.
What are the preperations?
some of the preps would be food, flowers, also a picture or DVD show about the deceased, his/her life, things he/she liked etc.
Are there any differences if it was a funeral service for a male or a female?
not really
Are there any kinds of special clothing or a certain type of clothing that people at the ceremony has to wear?
mostly it's aloha wear sometimes even plain white or all flowers, rarely black,
and sometimes the family will buy assorted dresses /skirts/aloha shirts so everyone is dressed the same almost like a group
What happens at a funeral? (like what do you see, smell, hear, etc.)
I have been to funerals where people have danced the Hula around an open coffin and even kids have played around the open coffin, there is music, Hula music, sometimes even a life band, singing, sometimes a choir depending on the religion of the family, people cry but it's not a somber occasion, you smell flowers, often it's outside and the food is already like sizzling next door, often a barbecue style and some of the family will cook
When does it usually take place and for how long?
I have been to some from 1 hour to 3 or 4 hours
can be morning afternoon or even early evening
I have been to some at 10 AM or as late as 6 PM
What about status? Like a wealthy family vs. a middle class family funeral. Are there any differences?
In Hawaii we don't really have classes, all classes are mixed and people are very close to nature, so not really, we all believe we are ONE and often at a funeral people are mixed up
which is wonderful
Let me know if I can help you more ok?
Malia
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Can you describe the difference of the funerals on land and at sea?
What are aloha cloting?
Are there different types of ceremonies if it was on another island?
What kind of food is being prepared at the funeral? Anything in specific?
What is the significance of a lei?
Thanks again for you wonderful help! I really appreciate it!
Can you describe the difference of the funerals on land and at sea?
At sea they are less long and often people will gather around the main boat carrying the csket with their own canoes, surfboards etc.
In the 60' one of our greatest surfers died and the funeral was a major event:
His name was Duke Kahanamoku. Witnesses say it was a sunny day but when the boats went out it started raining and then after his ashes were in the water, it was sunny again. Unless other places in the world, we are allowed to scatter ashes in our Pacific.
Another famous Hawaiian was Israel Kawaka'wiwo'ole and I remember vividly how people drove out in long lines with their cars, like a funeral procession, all the way to the other side of the island and they sat on their truckbeds and everyone was listening to his music. Check on you tube part of his funeral is on there. Finally Don Ho, another great musician, died I think 2 or 3 years ago and same thing, it was in Waikiki and thousands of people came and watched the canoes go out in the water. In a way it was more a party than a funeral celebrating the life of the person instead of his passing.
What are aloha clothing?
flower patterns on shirts and dresses and skirts, look it up online, give in "Hilo Hattie" clothing, the biggest retailer of aloha wear in Hawaii, you will see what I mean
Are there different types of ceremonies if it was on another island?
no same thing, sometimes smaller, cause less people live there but same thing
What kind of food is being prepared at the funeral? Anything in specific?
no just whatever the family is used to in general, if it's Chinese or Japanese food sometimes also Hawaiian like pig, salmon, fish in general, chicken in lauhala leaves and dessert. most of the time no alcohol however
What is the significance of a lei?
People get leis when they arrive in the island, for a birthday, a graduation, a special event, birthdays, achievements or just to say I love you so it's like a flower necklace to show you care
Thanks again for you wonderful help! I really appreciate it!
Anytime
Malia
