Kapu System

The Kapu System was a traditional social hierarchy in Hawaii that defined the roles, privileges, and restrictions of different groups, particularly between chiefs (aliʻi) and commoners. It was based on a set of unwritten rules and beliefs about sacredness and authority, with certain actions, places, and people considered off-limits or requiring special permission. The system reinforced social order by establishing strict boundaries and duties, and violations could lead to severe punishment. While it maintained stability in pre-contact Hawaiian society, it was eventually abolished in the 19th century as Hawaii adopted more Western ideas of governance and equality.