Many of our traditions were lost or altered after the death of Kamehameha Paiʻea. At the instigation of Kaʻahumanu and Keopulani, Lioliho (Kamehameha II) began the dismantling of the Hawaiian religious system. A few months later, the arrival of the American Missionaries abetted that dismantling. Generations later, when the American businessmen, aided by the US Navy, succeeded in a coup overthrowing Liliʻuokalani, the monarch of these islands, the governments of the Republic of Hawaiʻi and the State of Hawaiʻi gleefully did their best to shred what remained, allowing only the commercialized and sexualized tatters of our culture to be on public display.
But a groundswell was growing, and in the 1970s it turned into a tsunami of cultural revitalization. While many of our practices have had to alter to survive, we strive to retain our connection with our ʻāina, our land, and remember the lessons of our kūpuna, our elders.
Hoʻokupu, offerings, are part of that practice.
Here, we see hoʻokupu of fruit and lei brought to celebrate the birthday of King David Laʻamea Kamanakapuʻu Māhinulani Nālaʻiaʻehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua.
For some thoughts on this, read the excellent essay by Emma Kauana Osoriao.