hoʻokupu

Hoʻokupu is a traditional Hawaiian practice of giving offerings or gifts, often during ceremonies or as expressions of gratitude and respect. It can include items like food, fabrics, or symbolic objects presented to honor deities, ancestors, or hosts. These offerings are a way to acknowledge relationships, invoke blessings, and maintain cultural connections. Hoʻokupu embodies Hawaiian values of generosity, reciprocity, and reverence for nature and spirituality, playing a significant role in social and religious contexts within Hawaiian culture.