Priesthood Quote by King David Kalakaua
““When the high-priest Paao arrived with Pili he introduced some new gods while recognizing the old, strengthened and enlarged the scope of the tabu, and established an hereditary priest-hood independent of, and second only in authority to, the supreme political head. Different grades of priests also came into existence, such as seers, prophets, astrologers and kahunas of various function, including the power of healing and destroying. In fact, the priesthood embraced ten distinct grades or colleges, each possessing and exercising powers peculiar to it, and the mastery of all of them was one of the qualifications of the high-priesthood. The tutelar deity of the entire body was Uli.””
About This Quote
Source Historical account: Hawaiian oral tradition recorded in 19th‑century ethnographies
The priesthood was expanded, creating new deities, ranks, and powers, while keeping older traditions, centralizing religious authority under the high priest and the deity Uli.
In simple terms: Priests added new gods and ranks, preserving old ones, and centralized power.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how institutions evolve by integrating new ideas with tradition.
Themes
religion
authority
cultural change
hierarchy
ritual
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
historical
anthropological
When to use this quote
- colonial encounters
- modern religious reform
- cultural preservation
- community leadership
Key Concepts
theocracy
social stratification
ritual power
Questions to Reflect On
- How do societies balance new beliefs with old customs?
- What risks arise when religious authority becomes too centralized?
A Different Perspective
New layers can cause tension between innovation and tradition.
