[Polynesian] The Kumulipo is a very long Hawaiian chant consisting of over two thousand lines. Ancient Kahuna would memorize every word, and recite them at important events, such as the festival of the high god Lono. Much of Hawaiian folklore can also be identified in other parts of the Pacific area known as Polynesia. It is therefore no surprise to find that the Maori of New Zealand have a similar tradition as the Kumulipo, which they call Wharewananga, or "school of learning". The old cultures of Tahiti, the Marquesas, the Tuamotus, and even Easter Island, also contain similar recitals. The Kumulipo is divided into two distinct time periods. The first, called "po", is the age of the spirit world. everything is in darkness, and it is not clear if the earth exists, or if the events described occur in some other, transcendental place. In this era, lower living forms come to be, and the chant depicts the concept of life going through stages similar to the development of a new-born child. One f...
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