TRIBE LAWS
**(Read with caution, some of these laws subject to CTW/TW like topics)**— Tribe members that are under the influence of herbs or fermented fruits, where they harm someone is punishable with confinement to the sea hole up to a week. If said member dies by intoxicated individual dies, that individual will stay within the sea hole for up to a month with no clean water or ripe foods. They will be punished by getting a scar given over their lips and be exiled.
— Tribe members found abusing, harming, killing another member of their immediate family or another family within the tribe results in the loss of their ear, as well as a scar across the back under the shoulder blades and exiled from the tribe. Tribe members found abusing another member is cast to the sea where the majority of the tribe will keep the individual from leaving the sea until they pass out from the harsh waves. Their body will be then pulled from the sea where they will be given a scar on their cheek marking them as an abuser. **Subject to type of abuse, harming etc they can also face time in the sea hole.
— Elders and Medicine men are considered above the Tribe Leader. Though the words of the Leader should be listened to, the Elders words are law.
— No unjustified killing of allied tribe-clans or within the tribe itself.
— Females are treated with respect, love, and kindness. Mistreatment of any female married or not is a punishable offence.
— Though a driven patriarchy , married females are looked at as secondary leaders to their family branches. Though they can not over turn their patriarchs words, arrangements and stated guidelines - they can suggest changes, better suited arrangements etc.
— Land is sacred and should be treated as such, never take too much food that is considered gluttony. Never over hunt or over take sea faring creatures.
— If a tree dies, plant species dies etc, plant a healthy one in its stead. Never invoke harm to the land it is a punishable offence.
— The ocean is considered more than just the doorway to their home, it's sacred and beloved to the tribe. All food and objects that the sea gives them is considered gifts or omens from the goddess Nāmaka.
¤ Reasons for being exiled or become an outcast from the Tribe ¤
— Killing an elder without established approved reasons by their leaders or medicine men. (If it's not a mercy kill its considered taboo to kill an elder as they hold memories and tribe history.)
— Forceful mating of a female of the tribe is considered immediate outcast or death. The females are vital to their family and believe that Nāmaka: their goddess, gives a part of her soul to their women of the tribe. By directly disrespecting their females in this nature is considered extremely taboo.
— Killing a tribe member regardless of gender, that is not during the coming of age ceremonies, or the test of Kanehkili will get the individual kicked from the tribe and marked severally as the tribe as punishment will gang up on them one by one.
— Breaking tribal laws.
— Breaking the taboo law.
— Mistreating a sacred location, item, or individual.
— Leaving the Sacred Lands without a Seeker blessing will be exiled from the tribe.
》》Behaviors of the tribe to exiles or outcasts 《《
For the most part, tribe members adhere to the rule forbidding communication with outcasts, openly shunning them. For some, this is also an invitation to be hostile and violent towards outcasts.
Even after an outcast is allowed back into the Tribe, they may still face hostility.
Some Outcasts may even be allow a trial of return where after their quoted time of banishment has passed they obtain a trial where they proof they understood their punishment and if passed can return to life within the tribe.
Exiles are permanently marked with not only double missing ears but also they are maimed severely by either partial or complete removal of their tongue or eye depending on the nature of their exile.
SPOKEN LAW
— Nāmaka's Law:
You shall try to leave the world a better place you found it, for others come after you.
You shall seek to improve life for yourself and your children's children.
You shall uphold order and peace in the world and cause not evil and hatred to brew unjustly.
You shall not cause the destruction of that which isn't yours, nor shall you not hide treasures or resources from others.
You shall be united or seek unity if there is none.
You shall take only that which is given and give back in equal value for others to obtain if possible.
COMMON TRIBE GUIDELINES & RITUALS
— Beliefs in Deities/Gods holds quite some importance in their lives and, if anything, has made them more careful. The lions of the ʻŌpūnui Tribe are moderately spiritual as well and they have an abundance of celebrations and firm beliefs.
— Fathers and their sons are expected twice a year to go alone on exploration hunts and land surveying. The fathers are to teach their sons how to learn the way of navigating the land, how to find food and fresh water as well as when to spot poisonous or rotten foods.
— Mothers and their daughters once every year hold a dancing ceremony where they do not seek, talk, or establish themselves around males for a week. These tribe-ladies will group together in the sea pools where they will learn songs, talk about any issues going on within their family units, strengthen bonds to extended family members they lost touch with and learn new skill sets like sea fishing, shell scavenging and shell harvesting.
— There are fairly strong opposing family members that are against the current Elders and their past laws and although they could overthrow the current Elders, the majority of the Tribe is still in favor of them and their Wisdom. Afraid to test their faith in their deities or even their Elders words, some will push the boundaries to become more modern in terms of what is allowed in the group.
— Mālama ka ʻāina, Meaning to Take care of the land you live on. The Tribe members devote a lot of their time respecting nature and the world they live in. They always attempt to return anything used to how they got it before, if not they will then try to replace it with something of equal value. Eat and take only what you and your family needs, and never seek excessive usage of food or hunting prey.
— Birth of children are exceptionally precious and well protected, Elders will praise the children born with lavish adornments of flowers and carved wood. Family members use shells in combination of flowers. Females and children are sacred to their tribe. Woman are believed to be blessed by the sea goddess and are often looked at as divine until they come of age. Children born are painted entirely all over their bodies in tribal markings for their first three months of life to ensure that the gods and deities protect them from harm. A child that is NOT painted in their first three months is considered an omen.
— When a tribe member turns 3 years old it is customary that they take on a 3 day long trial, this trial strengthens their bonds to the gods, the land and their families. On the last day of the ceremony the child will face their oldest male family member, if they do not have a male family member then the oldest female would suffice.
— Physical touching between immediate tribes members are vital. Kiss to the cheek or even nose to nose 'kissing' is often seen amongst all Tribe members. During greetings and goodbyes the Tribe is never seen not giving a nose-to-nose touching regardless of their age, gender or affiliation with one another.
— Another devote physical sign to someone they respect are forehead bows where Tribes members will walk to that individual and tap their forehead with their own for a moment or two while stating "Ho'ihi"
— During weddings both individuals are given lavish feather and flower head pieces and later on in the ceremony a wrist wrapping with two sea shells. If the shells break it is considered an Omen to the couple getting married. Individuals getting married will often recite the words "E Hoomau Maua Kealoha, No Keia La, No Keia Po, A Mau Loa."
— It's common for males of a dying family branch to seek out stealing other females. Either from outsider family groups and or other extended branches within the tribe. Though the Elders discourage bringing in outsider bloodlines during extreme times they often will abduct young female children and raise them as their own until adulthood to marry them to the family that is in need.
— Tribe members found smuggling their own outside the tribe, or taking another tribe member outside their sacred tribe-lands without prior acceptance from their Elders is Taboo. No one member should ever leave their sacred homeland unless completely necessary for their survival.
— Abducting an Elder and holding them against their will is considered taboo. If a member is found abducting, harming, or attempting to kill an Elder the individual can face severe punishment by removal of both ears, extreme scars given to their mouth and limbs or even Death by Combat.
