<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Kapu is the ancient Hawaiian code of conduct of laws and regulations . The kapu system was universal in lifestyle, gender roles, politics and religion . An offense that was kapu was often a capital offense, but also often denoted a threat to spiritual power, or theft of mana . Kapus were strictly enforced . Breaking one, even unintentionally, often meant immediate death, Ko ʻo kapu . The concept is related to taboo and the tapu or tabu found in other Polynesian cultures . The Hawaiian word kapu is usually translated to English as "forbidden", though it also carries the meanings of "keep out", "no trespassing", "sacred", "consecrated", or "holy". </P> <P> The opposite of kapu is noa, meaning "common" or "free". </P> <P> The Kapuhili were restrictions placed upon contact with chiefs (kings), but these also apply to all people of known spiritual power . Kapu Kū mamao means prohibited from a place of the chief, while Kapu noho was to assemble before the chief . It was kapu when entering a chief's personal area to come in contact with his hair or fingernail clippings, to look directly at him, and to be in sight of him with a head higher than his . Wearing red and yellow feathers (a sign of royalty) was kapu, unless an individual was of the highest rank . Places that are kapu are often symbolized by Pahu Kapu, two crossed staffs, each with a white ball atop . </P>

The concept of noa can be best described as