pacific culture

Does anyone have any knowledge about the cultural issues surrounding marae and "threshold" - in terms of physical and cultural aproach and entry to marae and wharenui - and also if the same or similar themes apply to other pacific cultures?

Thanks!

I believe that in Hawai'i, marae are sacred outdoor spaces, I'm not sure if they still have buildings or are just spaces. I think the same word marae is used in French Polynesia, I'm not sure the word also refers to a building. Wharenui transliterates into ‘fale nui’ which in Hawai'ian means 'big house'. I know that in New Zealand, wharenui are large buildings, I wonder if they are more formally built structures because of the colder climate.

In Kiribati these buildings are called maneaba, and in the Marshall Islands as boknake, I believe the word is bai in Palau. These are usually made from materials available from nature, wooden floors, with woven walls and roofs. Although in larger centres like Tarawa and Majuro, they are constructed from Western-type materials.

I think they are all places you have to enter dressed correctly, behave respectfully and with restraint, sit around the wall area (not in the centre), speak softly and so on. The area around is also treated with respect although, of course, the children run and play as they might in an English church yard.

I have visited maneaba and boknake. As the centre of village life, these are used for community events and, whether or not these are actual religious ceremonies, they usually have a strong religious overtone. Villagers often eat together in the maneaba and attendance is almost compulsory, although the women are more in the background cooking and serving and eating when the men folk have finished. Children are everywhere.

These meetings can be a time of celebration, sharing of information, planning an aspect of community life or welcoming visitors (including yachties like us). Any time we have visited a maneaba, we found we were gently guided to wear a wrap/sarong, and even lent one if we were unprepared. Someone would usually take us in and show us where to sit and we would then have to learn what to do by observing others. But generally, because island people are so quiet and gentle, it is up to us to ask questions about their particular customs.

I'd be interested if others have more information.

In the very traditional Polynesian islands of Tikopia and Anuta, you must enter any house on your knees, and leave backwards on your knees.

In the Cooks they are basicallyopen areas, with some basaltic rocks. Don't walk on the rocks themselves, but you can wander around. Only a few are marked with signs.

The Tahiti Traveler's article about marae: http://www.thetahititraveler.com/general/artarch.asp