Haka

The hands. They shimmer—flitter—like the heat that emits off the ground. Like the breeze that flows through the trees and their leaves and the long, jet-black hair of the Maori women. The hands and fingers flicker with a youthful pace.

The child of the sun god Te Ra and his wives: the summer goddess Hine-Raumati and the spirit of winter Hine-Takurua. Ra and Hine-Raumati had a son named Tanerore who would dance to amuse his mother. The hot, dancing light of summer days was created by the pure amusement of the innocent child’s dance moves.

The stomping. The strong stance. The stature of the men and women whose ancestors anchor their feet to the earth, a strength that wavers with each howl and chant. The slapping, though they’re not that explicit. In unison with the stomping, the slapping prevails over the chants. The vibrations expand over arenas and bounce off the skin of the warriors from the thighs and breasts. It’s an expression of a passionate, inner self and the life force connection with the energy of the earth. An expression of the soul and pride in your team or family.

The expressions. The eyes wide, all white, all bright, deep, bulging, threatening—the most from a woman. The men stick their tongues out and the women in turn create a deep frown with their chin out, upright in a challenge.

Every part of the body is used. All parts of their ancestry are brought to the surface on display. The warriors who perform the kapa haka in any of its variations show respect and glory.

They’re called the kapa haka, “to stand in a row” to “dance.” This dance is meant to get the adrenaline pumping. Historically, it was meant to unite the warriors in battle and strike fear in their enemies. But today are seen as touching, loving displays of love and affection, joy and support, and to convey inexplicable protest or purpose.

The New Zealand national rugby team, the All Blacks, hasbrought this tradition to the forefront for the world to see. Theplayers use this face-off with their opponents as a warm-up. A show of strength. A show of unity. A show of a good challenge.Others of welcome, defiance, or contempt.

Before each game, the players assemble on the pitch with enough space to step, swing, and move along their ancestors. They face off with the opposing team moving their feet; hands;heads; mouths; shoulders; all in preparation for the full body experience for that of the waiata, or song, of the legend of “Ka Mate, Ka Mate!” from 1820 composed by chief Te Rauparaha.

This song tells the story of a young leader, Chief TeRauparaha who was doomed to hide from enemy warriors in a kumara pit, a food storage unit, of a fellow chief to escape. He uttered to himself, Ka Mate! Ka Mate! But saw hope when the chief above told the enemy he fled, chanting words of life, but wavered when the enemy continued to question the truth. Finally, they left, and the chief was safe to ascend from darkness into light—from death to life. A legend of bravery and redemption.

Face focused; arms stretched; chest out; breath ready; knees bent; body vigilant but not swaying. A Maori leader is chosen to lead the haka.

Taringa Whakarongo! Pay attention. Listen.

The leader snakes in and out of the lanes. Players stick out their tongues, growling in intimidation, power, and defiance.

Kia rite! Kia rite! Kia mau! Hi! Prepare yourself. Hold fast.

The players take deep breaths, then power stance with their arms in formation in front of their faces. With a few giving opponents a preview into their warrior soul. And they hold the pose.

Ringa pakia! Slap the hands against the thighs.

Uma tiraha! Puff out the chest.

Turi whatia! Bend the knees.

Hope whai ake! Let the hips follow.

Waewae takahia kia kino! Stomp the feet as hard as you can!

With their arms up, the players stomp with fists of steel. Then all together:

Kia kino nei hoki! As hard as you can!

The players bring their hands down to their sides and slap repeatedly their thighs, wide-eyed, chanting:

A KA MATE! KA MATE! KA ORA! I die. I die. I live.

The players are chanting, slapping their thighs, slapping their chests, and back, bringing their arms up making themselves bigger in precise unison with the intense words and expressions.

TENEI TE TANGATA PUHURUHURU NANA NELI TIKI MAI… For this is the hairy person who fetched the sun…

They bend their knees, posing in warrior poses, gathering the strength in their arms, slapping their forearms, burying the heavy down.

WHAKAWHITI TE RA… And caused it to rise…

The opponents standing together, historically in respect and disrespect…

A UPA NE! KA UPA NE! For I rise up and begin to climb, or One upward step! Another upward step!

UPANE! KAUPANE! I ascend to the summit.

The men stand straight, hands on hips.

WHITI TE RA! The sun shines!

HI! They cry out in closing, holding a half squat.

The All Blacks are the national team representing the Maori and Pakeha (non-Maoris) makeup of New Zealand. They have been performing the famous Ka Mate Ka Mate haka ever since 1888, an enactment of the lore of a warrior. But now have their variation called the Kapa O Pango.

Legend has it the first haka was performed by a group of warrior women sent by ancestor Tinirau to capture the killer of his pet whale, Kae, described as having horrible teeth. The women danced erotically to get the audience to laugh and show their teeth. And it was only then the women captured Kae and brought him to Tinirau.

Today, the haka is a heart-warming exhibition seen in graduations, funerals, welcoming ceremonies, and weddings, all by men and women. Their chants, howls, and stomps fill the air with thick history, bringing chills to those lucky enough to hear one.