Hawaiian Families Coat of Arms
Every morning as each car that passes the Iolani Palace there is the National Coat of Arms of the Hawaiian Kingdom. It is by no coincidence that it is respected by European nations as a design that is by the Kingdom to represent the Kingdom from one to another. Since the middle ages aristocratic families in Europe had Coats of Arms as well as family emblems which are passed down from generation to generation to show the symbols of family through generations. Family Crests and Coats of Arms, are visual symbolism that exceed the boundaries of time to represent past, present, and future. The symbolism in the design of a family crest or coat of arms can tell a person about their own identity from their ancestors achievements and status in society as well as make family trees easier to organize. The importance of a family's legacy through their blood is beautifully represented in this way. There are thousands of them and they are made in a variety of ways. Coat of Arms became a Symbol of Hawaiian Royalty The Coat of Arms of the Hawaiian Kingdom was a prepared commission in London from the secretary to the King "Timothy Ha'alilio. It was during the time of King Kamehameha III "Kauikeaouli". The design was selected and announced in 1845 in the Polynesian Newspaper. This symbol would continue to the show the reign of "The House of Kamehameha" as well as the legacy of the Hawaiian Kingdom. It is proudly displayed at Iolani Palace. On various documents it can be seen and on other seals or notes. The Gates entrance has a large symbol on it that represents the royal family. As you go into the palace itself there are engravings on framework as well as on some furniture. It can also be seen on tapestry and metalwork pieces and more. The Hawaiian Kingdom is related to the Iolani Palace is one of the Royal Hawaiian Kingdom residence starting from Kamehameha III all the way to the end with Queen Lili'uokalani. This is why it is most notable in the use of its royal coat of arms on royal land. Family Identity and Legacy In the Europe, families that were marked as landowners would have their social class classified their coat of arms as being generational landowner importance. It would mark families in the ownership of land in an organized fashion to easily identify the importance of a land and individual as well as who may be caring for it. This would be similar to having families recognized through the "Free Market" as which happened in King Kamehameha III's vision of making a secure titles to Hawaiians through family run land and ownership of that land. In many parts of the world identity through symbols would play a part in formalities of stronger hierarchical societies. Personal identification of surnames started with western influence of surnames that were adopted in 1860 by Kamehameha IV. He went on to regulate names for the transfer of father given surnames at birth. Because, previously names were borrowed from well-known figures, royalty, mythology, songs, and only sometimes from ancestors, so many surnames could be faulty which was a concern with "Mary Kawena Pukui". So, many maybe unsure exactly who's surname can be traced to which family. Hawaii Modernization Period The respect of major European powers was due to the Hawaiian Kingdoms foreign relations of Hawaii's independence through display. Many Hawaiians would have a period that would forever change Hawaii where many Hawaiians cast aside ancient traditions in favor of more modern ideas at first. After much resistance to the new ways in 1881, Kalakaua would have a world tour where the Hawaiian culture would be integrated through display and practice and preserved while still modernizing the islands of Hawaii to keep up with the rest of the world. Coat of Arms & Crest Symbols in History As history has shown through Kingdoms it has a pattern of beginning only nobility to hold such an honor, but as time goes on and people interested in their own family history were allowed to have their own representation. This same pattern would happen with the Chinese Family symbols, Japanese and Okinawans had their own form known as "Mon", Korean had Bon-gwan. The Portuguese, Germans, Puerto Ricans, and Phillipines use or aware of using the Coat of Arms in their symbolism. This relatable history would hold the ties of respecting the Hawaiian Kingdom as its own identity from its beginnings and in modern day. It would lead a contemporary approach to bring more interest in Hawaiian and local family genealogy as well as Hawaiian history of the Hawaiian Kingdom in its origins. This would be seen by those who would draw in the area of Heraldic Art. Hawaiian Heraldic Art of Common People Family Coat of Arms, are in a category of art as Heraldic Art as it is called by European Nations. Coat of Arms designs are based on: plants, animals, figures, and other motifs that are significant in Hawaiian culture. It would be a contemporary approach of family legacy through artwork with meaningful symbols to Hawaiian culture and Genealogy tracking. Hawaiian inspired designs would be based on their meanings through definitions and knowledge of being well cultured in the history of Hawaiian mythology. Hawaiian Heraldic Art adds formality and in the case of a Family crest it adds character in engaging visuals with designs. Modern Hawaiian families can use such crests to create interest or spark interest of reconnecting to the past and have better family understanding of Hawaii ancestors by ways of visual appeal. Family crests can add a sense of family honor and even family pride as a ways of display. Genealogy and Family Coats of Arms Hawaiian Heraldic Art, is an honorable craft that has seemingly been all but lost to the past. It requires great skill and inventiveness, qualities acquired only through training, and appreciation of "heraldic imagination". It is long been seen as a way that preserve the symbolism approved from the Hawaiian Kingdom through the wings of time and has gotten a life of its own from artists who continue to draw in this art practice. Those who drew different designs to identify families would come from their main timeline family crest. This would be a created crest to a family surname that would represent the heritage legacy of that particular family. Then when a family member had their own family-branch they would have an option to keep the crest or take their partners crest if they had one, but the default would be based on the surname to crest affiliation. There would also be the creative choice of combining two family crests that would lead to even more possible designs if the artist decided to due so in organizing a family branch through combinative-symbolism. A crest could also be based on a traditional design and be improvised by the family by its own interpretation if deemed necessary. This would lead into the designs of subfamily crests, modernized crest design, and local crest design concepts. Local Designs and The Heraldic Arts Imagination Local crest designs would become of interest from the famous senator Daniel K Inouye's interpretation of a family crest that looked like lauhaula weave. It was said to be based on Japanese mon, however it would have an effect of exploring local designs that incorporate regional design aspects of Hawaii. A few who would study in drawing motifs and coat of arms would refer to Dietrich Varez, Sig Zane, and Alfred Shaheen for inspiration. During the time of the 2019 Mauna Kea protests of the Mauna Kea telescope there was much discussion of family heritage. Some who of lower Hawaiian (koko-blood) percentage dealing with blood quantums would raise the question of Hawaiian identity. This topic of discussion would lead to a spark of interest back to the designs of clothing, music, and symbols of Hawaii's past. And with that interest in Heraldic Art. Designs that had no story or explanation were deemed without breath and if they represented the Hawaii history or culture along with the families culture it would be deemd to have shared-breath in its design. If a design was thought to not share in the culture of the islands it would be seen as un authentic as it would have no connection to respectful kama'aina or kanaka maoli.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
|