Editing Hawaii (section)

===First human settlement – Ancient Hawai{{okina}}i (1000–1778)===
{{Main|Ancient Hawaii}}
The date of the human discovery and habitation of the Hawaiian Islands is the subject of academic debate.<ref>{{cite book | first = Patrick Vinton | last = Kirch | author-link = Patrick Vinton Kirch | title = The Evolution of the Polynesian Chiefdoms | publisher = Cambridge University Press | year = 1989 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/evolutionofpolyn0000kirc/page/77 77–79] | isbn = 978-0-521-27316-9 | url = https://archive.org/details/evolutionofpolyn0000kirc/page/77 }}</ref> Early archaeological studies suggested that Polynesian explorers from the [[Marquesas Islands]] or [[Society Islands]] may have arrived as early as the 3rd century CE.<ref>Van, James (2010). ''Ancient Sites of Oahu: A Guide to Archaeological Places of Interest''. Bishop Museum Pr. Page 5. {{ISBN|978-1581780956}}.</ref> Some archaeologists and historians think it was a later wave of immigrants from [[Tahiti]] around 1100 CE who introduced a new line of high chiefs, the [[Kapu (Hawaiian culture)|kapu]] system, the practice of human sacrifice, and the building of ''[[heiau]]''.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|date=May 18, 2017|title=Hawaii History & Civilization Growth {{!}} Timelines, Facts, Info|url=https://www.tourmaui.com/hawaii-history-timelines/|access-date=May 19, 2021|website=Valley Isle Excursions}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Buck |first=Peter H. |title=Vikings of the Sunrise |publisher=Frederick A. Stokes Company |year=1938 |location=New York |pages=257–259}}</ref> This later immigration is detailed in [[Hawaiian mythology]] (''mo{{okina}}olelo'') about [[Pa'ao|Pa{{okina}}ao]]. Other authors say there is no archaeological or linguistic evidence of a later influx of Tahitian settlers and that Pa{{okina}}ao must be regarded as a myth.<ref name="auto"/> More recent archaeological studies further suggest that the first settlement of Hawaii was not until around 900–1200 CE.<ref name=":2"/>

The islands' history is marked by a slow, steady growth in population and the size of the [[chiefdoms]], which grew to encompass whole islands. Local chiefs, called [[Ali'i|ali{{okina}}i]], ruled their settlements, and launched wars to extend their influence and defend their communities from predatory rivals. Ancient Hawai{{okina}}i was a [[Makaainana|caste]]-based society, much like that of Hindus in India.<ref>{{cite book | first = Barbara A. | last = West | year = 2009 | url = {{google books |plainurl=y|id=pCiNqFj3MQsC|page=270}} | title = Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania | publisher = Infobase Publishing | page = 270 | isbn = 978-1438119137}}</ref> Population growth was facilitated by ecological and agricultural practices that combined upland agriculture (''manuka''), ocean fishing (''makai''), [[Ancient Hawaiian aquaculture|fishponds]] and gardening systems. These systems were upheld by spiritual and religious beliefs, like the ''lokahi'', that linked cultural continuity with the health of the natural world.<ref name="LaDuke 1999"/> According to Hawaiian scholar [[Mililani Trask]], the ''lokahi'' symbolizes the "greatest of the traditions, values, and practices of our people&nbsp;... There are three points in the triangle—the Creator, ''Akua''; the peoples of the earth, ''Kanaka Maoli''; and the land, the ''{{okina}}aina''. These three things all have a reciprocal relationship."<ref name="LaDuke 1999"/><ref name="People of the seventh fire">{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/34984146 |title=People of the seventh fire |date=1996 |publisher=Akwe:kon Press |others=Dagmar Seely |isbn=1-881178-02-1 |location=Ithaca, NY |oclc=34984146}}</ref>
{{#section:History of Hawaii|Pre1778}}