Historically, religions and truths have often been twisted and changed by unscrupulous leaders to gain personal power and control over people. Throughout history, new "gods" and new doctrines have popped up concocted by minds bent on the domination and control of others.

This was no different in Hawai'i.

Although every society has its problems, the evidence shows that the Hawaiians remembered the One Supreme God and worshiped him in relative peace until the priest pa'ao came. Fornander writes of this period that "… the kapus were few and the ceremonials easy; that human sacrifices were not practiced' and cannibalism unknown; and that government was more of a patriarchal than of a regal nature." The historian Rudy Mitchell, writes that Pa'ao was a kahuna nui (high priest), ali'i nui (high royalty), famous navigator and a sorcerer of great power. He was an ali'i nui of the sacred and powerful royal family of Ra'iatea. Pa'ao was from Vavau (Bora Bora). In ancient times, the royal house of Vavau conquered the other islands of western Tahiti and established themselves at Ra'iatea. Although this family knew of 'lo, they established a new oppressive religious system with its chief place at Taputaputea.

This royal family conquered with great numbers of warriors dedicated to naval tactics. They had a large fleet of war canoes built for speed and silence. They are said to also have designed paddles and paddling techniques to be swift and silent. It was with this technique and their special canoes that they surprised and conquered the other islands of western Tahiti. They were given the name Porapora i te nuu ta rua (first born of the fleet that strikes both ways). Malia Craver was told by her elders that Pa'ao brought many warrior with him. He probably conquered the Hawaiian Islands in the same way his family did in Tahiti, with stealth and skilled warriors.

Most historians estimate that Pa'ao came from Havai'i around A.D. 1300. He arrived with his warriors, priests (kahunas) and new rulers (ali'i). Havai'i was the ancient name Ra'iatea of the Society Group. This group of islands is more commonly known by the main island of the group, Tahiti. (The author has elected to call these islands Tahiti in this book.) It seems that the earlier voyagers from Tahiti integrated more peacefully with the Menehune. Apparently, there was intermarriage with the Menehune inhabitants and the diminishing of class distinction between the Tahitian ali'i and the commoners.

The legends say that when Pa'ao arrived, he regarded the high chief of Hawai'i, kapawa, a degenerate. The priests and ali'i were not performing the rituals they had formerly performed in Tahiti to retain mana (divine power). They did not build the necessary heiaus (temples), performing the necessary human sacrifices, or wear the red feather malo (loincloth-the symbol of royalty in Ra'iatea) of kings.

Pa'ao saw islands ripe for conquer. There was no powerful royal house or warriors trained for conquest. He returned to Ra'iatea to bring a new line of ali'i

with untainted mana Pa'ao returned to Hawai'i not only with a great many of warriors but with the ali'i, Pili. Through conquest and intermarriage with the older lines, Pili became powerful in the islands.

Pa'ao, as the high priest of the new royalty also became powerful. To consolidate his power, pa'ao instituted human sacrifices and changed the Hawaiians' religious rituals. He built the first laukini (human sacrifice) heiau (temple) on the Big Island (Hawai'i) at Waha'ula. Fornander wrote that " . . . there was a time before that, when human sacrifices were not only not of common occurrence, and an established rule, but were absolutely prohibited. Kapu ke kanaka na Kane, 'sacred is the man to Kane' . . . "

Pa'ao instituted the oppressive kapu (tapu or taboo) system and the worship of elemental spirit gods such as Pele. Fornander says that Pele worship in Hawai'i is only subsequent to this migratory period. The Pele cult was unknown to the purer faith of the older inhabitants and her name does not even appear in the creation accounts.

Pa'ao also changed the benign god, Ku, into a vengeful and bloodthirsty god of war. He also brought the Kanaloa (Tangaloa) Cult from Tahiti, elevating Kanaloa to a major creation god. The class separation between the Ali'i with their mana and the common Hawaiian again became a huge gulf.

Fornander wrote, "In the polity of government initiated during this period, and strengthened as ages rolled on, may be noted the hardening and confirming the divisions of society, the exaltation of the nobles and the increase of their prerogatives, the separation and immunity of the priestly order, and the systematic setting down, if not actual debasement of the commoners, the Maka'ainana."

What most people today regard as the religious system of the old Hawaiian people, was not their true religion --- it was a foreign religion introduced by the invader Pa'ao.

Pa'ao's voyages from Tahiti were the last from other Polynesian islands. The 19^th century Tahitian scholar, Teuira Henry, wrote that there formerly was an alliance of Polynesian nations which ended around 600 years ago. This alliance ended because of a dispute at an international meeting of navigators. He said that at the great marae (temple) of taputapuatea in Raiates, a Maori was murdered and a curse was put on the marae by one of their priests. Navigators from the different Polynesian nations never met again. By the time Captain Cook arrived, voyaging canoes were only a dim and distant memory.

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