Something To Think About...

Kapu kai is the ceremonial bath when in the sea or in other sea or salt water.  this was done to purify oneself after evil or defilement, physical or spiritual and to remove the kapu (taboo) under which the person usually came because of his/her defilement.  It marked the precautionary measure to insure purification if evil or defilement existed.  It marked the preparatory ceremonies of a hula dancer's 'ailolo or "graduation" from training and often came at the close of treatment by a medical kahuna.

Kapu kai is different from pi kai, ceremonial sprinkling with sea or salt water.  It has no connection with 'au'au kai, bathing in the ocean for physical cleanliness alone.

An old chant (oli) tells that the volcano goddess, Pele, went into the sea for her kapu kai after erupting.

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