Kukini
Encyclopedia
In the Hawaiian language
, kukini means "runner, swift messenger, as employed by old chiefs, with a premium on their speed." In ancient Hawaii
, Kukini were an elite class of men selected to undergo strenuous physical and mental training to become swift foot runners.
Such runners were used in battles, as messengers, spies, and as athletes in foot racing in the Makahiki
games. This term has become popular to use as a label for various things. For example, the shoe corporation Nike
used the name Kukini for one of the models of their running shoes.
Also, Hickam Air Force Base
's newsletter is named "Kukini," as is the newsletter for the University of Hawaii at Manoa
Library named Ke Kukini.
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
, kukini means "runner, swift messenger, as employed by old chiefs, with a premium on their speed." In ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii refers to the period of Hawaiian human history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. After being first settled by Polynesian long-distance navigators sometime between AD 300–800, a unique culture developed. Diversified agroforestry and...
, Kukini were an elite class of men selected to undergo strenuous physical and mental training to become swift foot runners.
Such runners were used in battles, as messengers, spies, and as athletes in foot racing in the Makahiki
Makahiki
The Makahiki season was the ancient Hawaiian New Year festival, in honor of the god Lono of the Hawaiian religion.It was a holiday covering four consecutive lunar months, approximately from October or November through February or March. Thus it might be thought of as including the equivalent of...
games. This term has become popular to use as a label for various things. For example, the shoe corporation Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
used the name Kukini for one of the models of their running shoes.
Also, Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Field, re-named Hickam Air Force Base in 1948, was a United States Air Force facility now part of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, named in honor of aviation pioneer Lt Col Horace Meek Hickam.- History :...
's newsletter is named "Kukini," as is the newsletter for the University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
The University of Hawaii at Mānoa is a public, co-educational university and is the flagship campus of the greater University of Hawaii system...
Library named Ke Kukini.