Key Info

- Tapu/Kapu denotes something as holy or sacred with spiritual restrictions.

- Noa deems something common, unrestricted and/or safe

Brief Bio

Tapu is a Polynesian traditional concept denoting something holy or sacred, with "spiritual restriction" or "implied prohibition"; it involves rules and prohibitions. The English word taboo derives from the latter meaning and dates from Captain James Cook's visit to Tonga in 1777.

The concept exists in many Polynesian societies, including traditional Māori, Samoan, Kiribati, Rapanui, Tahitian, Hawaiian, and Tongan cultures. In Hawaii, a similar concept is known as kapu; /t/ and /k/ are standard allophonic variations in Hawaiian phonology.

In Polynesian mythology and culture, specifically within Māori and Hawaiian traditions, noa is a core concept representing the opposite of tapu (sacred or restricted). It means common, ordinary, unrestricted, or safe. Noa acts as the necessary, liberating force that removes tapu, such as through cooking food or using specific rituals to make a person or place safe for everyday use.

If something is tapu, it is sacred, restricted, or dangerous. Noa is the release from these restrictions, allowing it to become "profane" or common. Noa is used to lift tapu. For example, after a pōwhiri (welcome ceremony) which is highly tapu, food—which is inherently noa—is eaten to neutralize the tapu state.