LONO

THE HAWAIIAN GOD OF AGRICULTURE, LONO WAS ASSOCIATED WITH FERTILITY AND THE HEAVENLY MANIFESTATIONS OF CLOUDS, STORMS, RAIN AND THUNDER. HE’S KNOWN BY HIS FULL NAME LONO-NUI-NOHO-I-KA-WAI, MEANING GREAT LONO DWELLING IN THE WATER. HIS SYMBOL WAS THE AKUA LOA—A TALL STAFF TOPPED WITH A CARVED HUMAN IMAGE, WHOSE NECK FEATURES A CROSSPIECE, AND IS DECORATED WITH FEATHERS, FERNS, AND KAPA CLOTH.

ALSO CALLED RONGO OR ROʻO IN SOUTHEASTERN POLYNESIA, LONO WAS ALSO A GOD OF HEALING. IN MARQUESAS ISLANDS, HE’S KNOWN AS ONO. IN HAWAII, THERE WERE SEVERAL TEMPLES BUILT FOR HIM, DEVOTED TO MEDICAL PURPOSES. THE PRIESTS ALSO PRAYED TO LONO FOR RAIN AND AN ABUNDANCE OF CROPS, ESPECIALLY DURING RAINY SEASONS. THE MAKAHIKI, A FESTIVAL FOR THE ANNUAL HARVEST, WAS DEDICATED TO HIM.