A Comment on the HAKA

Portland's Jefferson High Democrats have been doing the HAKA all year and are 9-1 and in the Championship Hunt!   This has unified their team but caused some misunderstanding and concerns.  I wrote a summary for people to try and understand this HAKA and while a school of primarily all African American athletes would eb doing this strange dance.

 

Here is that post!

 

Ka' Mate Ka'Mate... Thats the HAKA! by FBreporter, 11/17/07

They are doing the Ka'Mate Ka'Mate Maori Haka that stems from the ancient warrior cultures from New Zealand and the Maori Island Chains. Brought back in recent years by the Rugby Leagues and the Popular All Blacks in New Zealand; the Haka is now sweeping the world as a dance/ritual that teams are attempting to perform prior to a game. The problem is most do not know what they are doing or do it wrong. It can be a great unifier but can backfire on a team if done wrong. It should only be taught or done by somebody of Polynesian Heritage that knows the essence and meaning.

Done wrong it can be KAPU; forbidden and could result in a threat to the spiritual power or mana.

At Jefferson they have several Samoan and Polynesian Athletes who know it fairly well. They have been doing it prior to the game facing the opposing teams side. They have had to modify that but it clearly is a source of power and strength for them. A great season and a good playoff effort. The sound thrashing of Lincoln was a good example of the level of play there.

Made very popular in Hawaii in the past 10 years by the Mighty Kahuku Red Raiders. As players from Kahuku have gone on to College and to Coaching positions you will see it proliferating.

Here is a link to how they do it! http://youtube.com/watch?v=h98B7bF7l8Y

This is what they are saying with the words:

Leader:

Ka mate, ka mate ('Tis death, 'tis death )(or: I may die)

Team:

Ka ora Ka Ora ('Tis life, 'tis life) (or: I may live)

Leader: Ka mate, ka mate ('Tis death, 'tis death )

Team: Ka ora Ka Ora ('Tis life, 'tis life )

All:

Tçnei te tangata pûhuruhuru

( This the hairy man that stands here... )

Nâna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te râ

(…who brought the sun and caused it to shine)

 upane, ka upane (A step upward, another step upward)

 upane, ka upane (A step upward, another step upward)

Whiti te râ, hî! (The sun shines!)

So this was one of many Cultural Haka dances that were often used when Rival groups met prior to battle in Polynesia.

Personally I think it is awesome if done right and by qualified people. I think this has been a god thing for Jefferson!

 

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