The genealogy chant (ka mo‘okū‘auhau) for a Hawaiian defines the person. When a Hawaiian asks questions about where you’re from and who your family is, he/she is asking who you are.

Nā mo‘okū‘auhau are often composed by a member of the family for a child, and is recited for the first time at the child’s first birthday. Name chants can be elaborate and can also be simple. The chant names the family up until the child who the chant is for. In Hawai‘i today the mo‘okū‘auhau is recited as a way of introduction, whether to a person or to the ancestors, or to the ‘aumakua (the family gods). A person’s acceptance depends on this introduction. As far as formal protocol, the mo‘okū‘auhau is a necessity.

Unfortunately, for most of us, we were not given a mo‘okū‘auhau, so we must formulate one for ourselves. The following is a simple formula where you simply need to fill in the blanks with personal information.

You can modify the structure to include as many generations as you want. If you need help with translations for great grandparent terms you can e-mail: ohana@rwmeyer.com or there is a Hawaiian Dictionary on line (I’m told anyway).

An example follows the formula.

Mai poina (don’t forget) though, once given something you must perpetuate it. Remember to compose one for your children. They should be able to recite it from memory by the time they are eight.

Please download_(.pdf) this formula so you can compose and recite your own mo‘okū‘auhau.


Ka Mo‘okū‘auhau o (person’s name)___________

‘O (Great-great Grandfather’s name) ke kupuna kāne kualua a

‘O (Great-great Grandmother’s name) ke kupunahine kualua

Hānau ‘ia ‘o (Great Grandparent’s name) , he wahine (he kāne)

‘O (Great Grandfather’s name) ke kupuna kāne kuakahi a

‘O (Great Grandmother’s name) ke kupunahine kuakahi

Hānau ‘ia ‘o (Grandparent’s name) , he wahine (he kāne)

‘O (Grandfather’s name) ke kupuna kāne a

‘O (Grandmother’s name) ke kupunahine

Hānau ‘ia ‘o (mother’s/father’s name) , he wahine (he kāne)

‘O (father’s name) ka makua kāne a

‘O (mother’s name) ka makuahine

Hānau ‘ia ‘o (person’s name), he wahine (he kāne)

‘O wau ‘o (person’s full name)

No (place of birth) wau

Noho wau i (place of present residency)

Eia no wau.

Ka Mo‘okū‘auhau o Eric Damien Stack

‘O Rudolph Wilhelm Meyer ke kupuna kāne kualua a

‘O Kalama Waha, ke kupunahine kualua
Hānau ‘ia ‘o Otto Samuel Meyer, he kāne

‘O Otto Samuel Meyer, ke kupuna kāne kuakahi a

‘O Maggie Anna McCorriston ke kupunahine kuakahi
Hānau ‘ia ‘o Kīheipua Meyer, he kāne

‘O Kīheipua Meyer ke kupuna kāne a

‘O Punikaua‘i Silva, ke kupunahine
Hānau ‘ia ‘o Punalei Meyer, he wahine

‘O Paul Joseph Stack,ka makua kāne a

‘O Punalei Stack, ka makuahine
Hānau ‘ia ‘o Eric Damien Stack, he kāne,

‘O wau ‘o Eric Damien Stack

No Illinois wau

Noho wau i Waiākea Uka

Eia no wau.

---

Translation:

The Genealogy of Eric Stack

Rudolph Wilhelm Meyer was the Great-great grandfather and
Kalama Waha was the Great-great grandmother
Otto Samuel Meyer was born, a boy.

Otto Samuel Meyer was the Great grandfather and
Maggie Anna McCorriston was the Great grandmother
Kīheipua Meyer was born, a boy.

Kīheipua Meyer was the Grandfather and
Punikaua‘i Silva was the Grandmother
Punalei Meyer was born, a girl.

Paul Joseph Stack was the Father and
Punalei Stack was the Mother
Eric Damien Stack was born, a boy.

I am Eric Damien Stack
I am from Illinois
I live in Waiākea Uka
Here I am.