Aikāne
Aikāne relationships in Hawaii or homosexual or bisexual activity in the pre-colonial era, was an accepted tradition and is one of the best examples of a heterosexual community accepting the practice.[1] These relationships are accepted as part of the history of ancient Hawaiian culture.[2] The sexual relationship may begin in the teens and continue throughout the lives of the men, even though they maintain heterosexual partners.[3] The Hawaiian aikane relationship is well known to have been a part of Hawaiian noble life, including that of Kamehameha. Some myths refer to women's desires and therefore believed that some women may have been involved in aikane relationships as well.[4]
In regard to the aikāne relationship, Lieutenant James King stated that "all the chiefs had them" and recounts a tale that Captain Cook was actually asked by one chief to leave King behind, considering such offer a great honor. A number of Cook's crew related tales of the tradition with great disdain. American adventurer and sailor, John Ledyard commented in detail about the tradition as he perceived it. The relationships were official and in no way hidden. The sexual relationship was considered natural by the Hawaiians of that time.[5]
References
- ↑ William Kornblum (31 January 2011). Sociology in a Changing World. Cengage Learning. pp. 189–. ISBN 1-111-30157-3.
- ↑ Michael Klarman (18 October 2012). From the Closet to the Altar: Courts, Backlash, and the Struggle for Same-Sex Marriage. Oxford University Press. pp. 56–. ISBN 978-0-19-992210-9.
- ↑ Carol R. Ember; Melvin Ember (31 December 2003). Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender: Men and Women in the World's Cultures Topics and Cultures A-K - Volume 1; Cultures L-Z -. Springer. pp. 207–. ISBN 978-0-306-47770-6.
- ↑ Bonnie Zimmerman (2000). Lesbian Histories and Cultures: An Encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis. pp. 358–. ISBN 978-0-8153-1920-7.
- ↑ Stephen O. Murray (1 June 2002). Homosexualities. University of Chicago Press. pp. 99–. ISBN 978-0-226-55195-1.