Final answer:
Traditional Hawaiian arts are rooted in spiritual and cultural values. They reflect the interconnectedness between the environment and humans as demonstrated in ancient land divisions and material practices like basket weaving and bark cloth making.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to "The Ancient Hawaiian Art of Bark Cloth," traditional Hawaiian arts are based around spiritual and cultural values. The Polynesian culture, which includes Hawaii, is deeply rooted in the spirituality and practicality of the natural world, with an emphasis on the interconnectedness of the environment and humans. This is reflected in the ancient Hawaiian land division system called ahupua'a, which incorporates spirituality into daily and seasonal activities. Additionally, traditional materials and techniques like basket weaving and the making of clothing from bark cloth, reveal the deeply embedded cultural beliefs and practices. Western influences and maritime activities, notwithstanding their significance, are not the base around which traditional Hawaiian arts were developed.
Examples from Other Cultures
Similar cultural values are seen in other Indigenous peoples' material cultures, such as the use of weaving arts in basketry, or the spirit of potlatch associated with the Pacific Northwest. Native art forms, while collected and admired, embed the cultural philosophy and values of their creators, often signifying a sense of continuity with ancestral practices.