Post #712494 by christiki295 on Sat, Mar 29, 2014 5:49 PM

Another section of that interesting article from that University of Hawaii article is on the subject of the Kapu and how it restricted women from eating certain foods or from eating with males. This seemingly is an odd, and seemingly discriminatory, distinction.

Under the kapu system, there were forms of bondage and slavery, human sacrifice (Valeri, 1985), and infanticide (Malo, 1951, p. 70; Kamakau, 1961, p. 234). While adult females were afforded many rights and some had great status, it was kapu for them to eat certain foods; they could be put to death for eating pork, certain kinds of bananas or coconuts, and certain fish (Malo, 1951, p. 29). Poi and taro4 (basic staples of the Hawai‘ian diet) were not to be eaten from the same dish by males and females. Furthermore, in certain circumstances upon threat of death, adult males and adult females were not allowed to eat together, although they could have sex together. Religious laws controlled eating more than they controlled sex.

Some suggest that the restrictiveness of the Kapu led to the demise of traditional Hawaiian society and the abandonment of worship of the Tiki Gods.

Shortly after his father's death and his succession to power, Kamehameha's son Liholiho disregarded the sanctity of the kapu system that was the backbone of Hawaiian society. Encouraged by his mother, Keopuolani, and regent Ka'ahumanu, two of Kamehameha's widows, Liholiho defied tradition by allowing men and women to eat together without restriction at a feast attended by high chiefs and several foreigners. Called the 'Ai Noa, his act shook the foundation and eventually brought the demise of an entire belief system. Ultimately, the ancient gods were abandoned as temples were dismantled and idols burned.
http://www.hawaiihistory.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ig.page&PageID=275