Kū-ka’ili-moku, God of War

This image of the god Ku shows him in his aspect as Kū-ka’ili-moku – Ku the snatcher of land. Rather than being a representation of the deity, the figure depicts the god’s qualities of strength and readiness for battle. During ceremonies, the figure served as a receptacle which the god could enter through prayer and ritual.
The statue comes from one of the temples that King Kamehameha I built for Ku, seeking the god’s support for his military ambitions.