About Body Alignment
The medallion is inspired by spatial alignment practices often demonstrated in the construction of heiau, or places of worship. Many of these heiau were built on either an east-west or a land-sea axis, though the east-west axis is thought to be, what historian David Malo called, the absolute orientation system. Under this alignment, the viewer is directed to face the west, so that north is ʻākau or right of the viewer and south is hema or left of them.
We can see the influence of these axes in the alignment of many heiau with the horizon, celestial bodies, and sacred places.
The Kūkaʻōʻō heiau in Mānoa Valley is an example of these practices. Upon close examination, the corners of this heiau are perfectly aligned with the cardinal directions. This means that, on the equinox—or the day when the sun rises and sets on the Earth’s equator—the eastern corner would point directly to where the sun would rise. By using these alignment practices, Kānaka could keep track of significant events and seasons.
The wayfinding system integrates these cultural knowledges to bring awareness to the history and continued practice of Kānaka ʻŌiwi traditions. Visit the video named the “Star Compass” to learn more about how these orientation concepts are practiced in contemporary spaces and on the UH Mānoa campus.
