Describe what mea no’eau is and what your reaction is to it

Mea No'eau: it means purpose; must be high quality, functional (tool, weapon, worship, etc.), must have mana through use.

This unit has been called "Art as a Reflection of the Environment" for as long as Hawaiian Studies 107 has been taught. The point of view expressed in this title is that the source for indigenous Hawaiian art is the physical environment. This is true because both raw materials and spiritual lifeforce or, mana are gifts of this envronment. This essay is about using the English word "art" when describing the mea no'eau (skillfully created works) of the Native Hawaiian people. 

When different kumu take their respective turns to teach the same course and do so several times over, the natural tendency is to modify aspects of the content, without really altering its overall purpose or objectives. Such is the case concerning the new title of this unit developed by three kumu for use in their respective versions of Hawaiian Studies 107 only. Jon Kamakawiwo'ole Osorio and Kanalu Young (UH Manoa) along with Pua Mendonca (Kapiolani Community College) have taken some time to apply their collective experience teaching this unit to think critically about the meaning of the word "art" as it relates to indigenous Hawaiian culture and the mea no'eau of the Native Hawaiian people. Dr. Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa, the author of this course, is to be commended for enabling the kind of academic flexibility it took to develop the following mana's about this unit and the meaning reflected in this alternate title.