Kalea Confederation

Kalea Confederation Aupuni Hui Kalea
Flag
Motto: “He aliʻi ka ʻāina; he kauwā ke kanaka.” (Kalean) “The land is the chief; man is its servant.”
Anthem: "Na Keiki o ke Kai (The Children of the Sea)"
Capital and largest city	Heiau
Official languages	Kalean
Recognised national languages	Kalean
Recognised regional languages	Niʻihau (Kalean dialect)
Ethnic groups	Kalean (94%), Ni'ihau (3%), Other (3%)
Religion	Pūlahism (50%), Kaoism (29%), Atheist (14%), Ni'ihau folk religion (3%), Other (4%)
Demonym(s)	Kalean, Niʻihau
Government	Libertarian socialist federated semi-direct democracy
• Haoa (traditional title); Co-President (official title)	Alana Kalama (DCP)
• Haoa (traditional title); Co-President (official title)	Pika Akamai (SP)
• Haoa (traditional title); Co-Chair (official title)	Eleu Kamea (DCP)
• Haoa (traditional title); Co-Chair (official title)	Na'au Kealoha (PSP)
Legislature	Kalean Legislative Assembly
Establishment
• Settlement	~1000 CE
• Warring Tribes	~1200 CE
• Kingdom	1531 CE
• Republic	1774 CE
• Confederation	9 January, 1783 CE
Area
• Total	282,383 km2 (109,029 sq mi)
Population
• 2021 estimate	7.81 million
• Density	68.42/sq mi (26.4/km2)
Currency	Kalean Dala
Date format	DD/MM/YY
Driving side	right
Calling code	+900
Internet TLD	.kal

Kalea, officially known as the Kalea Confederation (Kalean: Aupuni Hui Kalea), is a sovereign nation comprised of the Kalean island chain in the geographic region West of the continent of Ausiana in the Coalition of Crown Albatross. It is situated in the eastern portion of the Toyana Ocean, just south of the Alutia Sea and just west of the Sancheon Gulf. Its closest neighbors are Yuan to the east, Toyana to the south, and Gangkou (Zamastan) to the southeast. The climate consists of mostly subtropical forests. Its government functions as a libertarian socialist federated semi-direct democracy currently administered by a coalition of leftist parties. It consists of self-governing sub-regions in the provinces of Ho'olua, 'Akau and Hema. As of 2021, it has an estimated population of 7.81 million inhabitants. It has a total area of 282,383 sq. km (109,029 sq. mi). Its capital and largest city is Heiau, located on the largest and northernmost island of the southern province of Hema.

Etymology

The word "Kalea" means “happiness” and “joy” in Kalean. The Confederation was named after the man most Kaleans consider as the "Father of the Confederation" and the "First Haoa," Kalea Apekalmoa. As well as naming Kalea after him, the most commonly spoken language at the time, the language now known as Kalean today, and the demonym of the people of Kalea, were also named in honor of him.

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  Picture of Kalea Apekalmoa at 98 (August 1840).

History

The history of the islands of Kalea has seen the rise of civilization from small tribal rivalries on individual islands to a centralized monarchy, from monarchy to an autocratic republic, and from autocrats to a unified confederacy of provinces. Kalea has a longstanding history of maintaining diplomatic neutrality in times of global unrest, most of which was due to willing isolation, but in recent times that neutrality has become more and more threatened as outside forces encroach on the soveriegnty of the islands.

First human settlement – Ancient Kalea (circa 1000 CE – 1531 CE)

Based on archaeological evidence, the earliest habitation of the Kalean Islands dates to around 1000–1200 CE, but it is unknown where the settlers originated from as all evidence prior to their arrival is as of yet to be discovered. The date of the human discovery and habitation of the Kalean Islands is the subject of academic debate. Some archaeologists and historians think it was a later wave of immigrants around 1200 CE who introduced a new line of high chiefs, the kapu system, the practice of human sacrifice, and the building of heiau. This later immigration is detailed in Ni'ihau mythology (moʻolelo) about Paʻao. Other authors say there is no archaeological or linguistic evidence for a later influx of settlers and that Paʻao must be regarded as a myth.

The history of the islands is marked by a slow, steady growth in population and the size of the chiefdoms, which grew to encompass whole islands. Local chiefs, called aliʻi, ruled their settlements, and launched wars to extend their influence and defend their communities from predatory tribal rivals. Ancient Kalea was a caste-based society.

Kingdom of Mokupuni (1531 CE – 1774 CE)

During the 1520s, and into the early 1530s, chiefs often fought for power. After a series of battles that ended in 1531, all inhabited islands were subjugated under a single ruler, who became known as King Makoa the Great. He established the House of Makoa, a dynasty that ruled the kingdom until 1774. It was under the monarchy that Kalea had its greatest religious and spiritual revolution with the abandonment of traditional beliefs following the founding of Pūlahism and Kaoism.

Rise of Pūlahism and Kaoism

It was during the reign of King Nahoa, between the years 1612 CE – 1632 CE, that a wayfaring stranger began preaching a message contrary to the established and accepted religion and society of the time. This stranger was called Pūlah, and he began spreading his message after he spent a lifetime searching only to find enlightenment in the one area he had never checked: within himself. This new religion openly advocated against the caste system, preached a message of a life without attachments and the metaphysical, and stated that within each and every person was an inner nature, later called "Pūlah" nature, that if unlocked would lead to true freedom in Paradaiso ("paradise"), a heaven-like realm that all may enter, regardless of their status in society. This religion later became known as Pūlahism in honor of its founder.

Not long after Pūlah began teaching his message, another came along and preached a message of balance and listening to the Ke Ala, or "the Way". This new religion was based on waiting and listening to the Ke Ala to guide you, and in doing so you would live a life of balance and harmony. This religion later became known as Kaoism in honor of its founder, Kao.

Republic of Mokupuni (1774 CE – 1783 CE)

Towards the later years of the Monarchy, the nobility and many wealthy businessmen had amassed large amounts of political power. In 1774, King Makani was forced to sign the 1774 Constitution of the Kingdom of Mokupuni. The document stripped the king of much of his authority. It established a property qualification for voting that effectively disenfranchised most Kaleans and immigrant laborers and favored the wealthier elite and noblility. The wealthier elite and noblility were allowed to vote while those in middle and lower classes were not. As the 1774 Constitution was signed under threat of violence, it is known as the Bayonet Constitution. King Makani, reduced to a figurehead, reigned until his death, shrouded in mysterious circumstances, at the end of November 1774. With no heir or other living relatives, he was the last King of Mokupuni as the autocrats moved quickly to abolish the monarchy entirely, officially declaring the Republic of Mokupuni under the falsehood that it was King Makani's dying wish.

In early February 1782, the autocratic government divided the republic into three provinces based on which islands were a part of the three major tribes remaining. This act was seen as the crucial turning point in the downfall of the autocracy because it fuelled tribal patriotism. Months later in June 1782, representatives from each of the three tribes met with representatives of the government to promote closer cooperation between governmental and tribal authority. This meeting did not go as planned for the government, as the tribal leaders had met a month earlier in May to discuss plans for overthrowing the oppressive upper classes, and the tribal representatives assassinated the government's representatives. When news of this spread, it further fuelled tribal patriotism to the point of civil unrest. The government ordered the army to dispatch to deal with the unrest, but the soldiers were more loyal to their tribes than the government that oppressed them. A majority of the army deserted and marched on the capital of Heiau. With little resistance, the tribes overthrew the government, arrested and imprisoned those in positions of government, and began talks of what new governmental structure would be implemented. The republic lasted for a total of just under nine years and was officially ended on January 1, 1783 with the turn of the new year.

Kalea Confederation (1783 CE – Present Day)

The founder of the Confederation, Kalea Apekalmoa, had a dream of unifying the three major tribes of the islands to bring their common culture together, provide reparations for years of oppression, and to thwart possible aspirations of foreign powers subjugating the Kalean people. He proposed that each major tribal leader be given sovereignty over a select geographical region of the Kalean island chain, and subsequently, all those within their tribe and minor tribes inhabiting the islands, reestablishing the provinces recently established under the former republic as the Three Provinces of the Confederation: Ho'olua, 'Akau and Hema. 9 January, 1783 is the day when Kalea was officially established as a Confederation and when the national holiday "Celebration of Confederation" occurs to commemorate the founding of Kalea and honor its founder. Over time, this union has grown and evolved in its many forms, but all have taken a somewhat similar model to that of Kalea Apekalmoa's original Confederation. What can be seen today is the result of centuries of collaboration into what is now known as the Kalea Confederation.

21st Century

Recent decades have seen an increase in tensions between Kalea and Yuan, most recently as of Sunday, May 15th, Yuaneze military aircraft entered Gangkou airspace, violating its airspace, and Monday, May 16th, in which a Yuaneze naval vessel was sunk in a confrontation between it and a Zamastanian naval vessel, resulting in the deaths of 317 sailors. In an effort to deter Yuaneze influence, the Kalean government endorsed Zamastanian sovereignty over Gangkou. The Kalean government responded by speaking out against the repeated violations of Gankou's soveriegnty, and by placing the Kalean Navy and Air Force on alert as a precaution. Co-Chairs Eleu Kamea and Na'au Kealoha called a special session of the Kalean Legislative Assembly on May 17th to discuss further actions against Yuan. Reports of Yuan firing on and sinking a commercial trade vessel helped to initiate a preliminary vote as to the question of condemning the Yuaneze government for their continued actions near Gangkou during this particular crisis, a vote which succeeded 241 to 12. Legislators will begin drafting legislation to officiate the results and a formal vote will be held by the end of the week. The possibility of increasing the readiness of the Kalean Democratic Forces as a precaution for any possibility of retaliatory actions on the part of the Yuaneze government was also discussed, as it was mentioned by one legislator that they "wouldn't put it past them." A brief mention of joining WEDA, otherwise known as the Western Euronia Defense Alliance or the Olympic Defense Alliance, was brought up by one legislator but was quickly dismissed by the rest of the attending body. Co-Chair Kamea said she is saddened by what is happening but hopes the recent events are "a wake-up call to my fellow legislators that it's becoming more and more obvious Kalea cannot remain on the world's sidelines any longer."

Geography and environment

Kalea has three provinces, Ho'olua, 'Akau and Hema, comprised of a number of islands totaling at thirty-one. Ho'olua has the most islands at 17, followed by 'Akau at nine islands, and finally Hema at five islands. The various bodies of water surrounding the islands are what make up the boundaries between each of the provinces. Separating several islands of the Ho'olua province is the Ho'olua Sound. Separating several islands of the 'Akau province is the Sea of Apekalmoa. Its closest neighbors are Great Yuan to the east, Toyana to the south, and Gangkou (Zamastan) to the southeast. It shares maritime borders with Great Yuan to the east and Toyana to the south.

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  Bodies of water around Kalea

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  Ho'olua (yellow), 'Akau (red), Hema (green)

Climate

Due to its location, Kalea's climate is dominated by subtropical forests. These types of forests are characterized by low variability in annual temperature and high levels of rainfall (>200 centimetres (79 in) annually). Monsoons are a frequent occurrence during rainfall in Kalea. Forest composition is dominated by evergreen and semi-evergreen deciduous tree species. These trees number in the thousands and contribute to the highest levels of species diversity in any terrestrial major habitat type. These forests are home to more species than any other terrestrial ecosystem. A perpetually warm, wet climate makes these environments more productive than any other terrestrial environment on Earth and promotes explosive plant growth.

Wildlife and fauna

Among the diversity of Kalea's climate, it boasts some of the highest number of species in the world despite its geography and size. Kalea is home to a varying amount of bird species such as hornbills, toucans, and the harpy eagle, as well as a varying amount of mammal species such as deer and the hoary bat. These forests contain an unparalleled diversity of invertebrate species. Aquatic life is no exception, with Kalea home to several species of angelfish, barracuda, blenny, butterflyfish, cardinalfish, and many, many more.

Flora in Kalea is just as diverse as its wildlife. The pendant kihi fern, bird's-nest fern, males tree fern, serpent woodfern, amaumau fern, and whisk fern are just a few of the ferns native to Kalea. Among the trees native to Kalea, there are several trees of the genera Dracaena, Pritchardia, and Myrsine just to name a few. Native flowers to Kalea include anthurium, bird of paradise, Kalean gardenia, pikake, blue ginger, Kalean hibiscus, plumeria, and so much more.

Topography

The topography of Kalea ranges from flat tropics in the eastern islands of 'Akau and Hema to small mountain tropics in the western islands of Ho'olua. Small mountain tropics can also be found on the westernmost islands of 'Akau.

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  Topographical map of Kalea

Politics and government

The political system of Kalea is based on its adopted constitution, officially titled "[The] Charter of the Three Provinces". It provides that all residents of Kalea shall enjoy fundamental rights such as gender equality and freedom of religion. It also provides for property rights. Kalea's system of community government has direct democratic aspirations in the form of municipal and provincial councils.

Executive branch

The Kalean Executive Council, or simply the Executive Council, acts as a joint coordination committee that oversees the implementation of policies developed by the Kalean Legislative Assembly. The Council assists with coordination and collaboration between provinces and municipalities in political, economic, social and cultural matters; particularly that of diplomatic and military matters. It also supervises and follows the work of federal Departments and Ministries, as well as oversees the implementation and enforcement of all legislation passed by the Legislative Assembly. It is currently headed by two Co-Presidents, Alana Kalama (DCP) and Pika Akamai (SP).

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  Executive Council composition

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  Co-President Alana Kalama, DCP (Age 60)

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  Co-President Pika Akamai, SP (Age 47)

Legislative branch

The Kalean Legislative Assembly, or simply the Legislative Assembly, is a unicameral legislature and the sole legislature of Kalea. It is comprised of a total of 253 seats, with one seat per 15,000 registered voters in Kalea at the time of each election. It is currently dominated by a coalition of left-wing parties, the largest of which are the Democratic Confederalist Party, Syndicalist Party, and Pūlahist Socialist Party. The Opposition is comprised of a coalition of minor parties, most of which are center-left to center-right. There are a total of 253 seats in the Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Assembly is currently headed by Co-Chairs Eleu Kamea (DCP), who at age twenty is the youngest elected member of the Legislative Assembly and youngest Co-Chair in Kalea's history, and Na'au Kealoha (PSP).

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  Legislative Assembly composition

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  Co-Chair Eleu Kamea, DCP (Age 20)

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  Co-Chair Na'au Kealoha, PSP (Age 52)

Judicial branch

The justice system in Kalea is influenced by the libertarian socialist ideology of democratic confederalism. At the local level, citizens create Peace and Consensus Committees, which make group decisions on minor criminal cases and disputes as well as in separate committees resolve issues of specific concern to women's rights like domestic violence and marriage. At the regional level, citizens (who need not be trained jurists) are elected by the regional People's Councils to serve on seven-member People's Courts. At the next level are four Appeals Courts, composed of trained jurists. The court of last resort is the Provincial Court, which serves the region as a whole. Separate from this system, the Constitutional Court renders decisions on compatibility of acts of government and legal proceedings with the constitution of Kalea.

Kalea proclaims absolute equality of women under the law, allowing civil marriage and banning forced marriage, polygamy and underage marriage. A new criminal justice approach was implemented that emphasizes restoration over retribution. The death penalty has been abolished in Kalea.

Military

The main military force of Kalea is the Kalean Democratic Forces (KDF), an alliance of Kalean provincial militia groups formed in 1915. Each provincial militia is comprised of several municipal militias that double as municipal police forces. KDF is locally recruited to garrison their municipal and provincial areas and is under the responsibility and command of the respective provinces and municipalities of Kalea. Before the creation of the KDF, the only other official Kalean military force was its small standing army under both the Republic and Kingdom of Mokupuni. The KDF currently has a total of 157,982 active personnel and 864,931 reserve personnel.

Being an island nation, the concern of maintaining sovereignty over Kalean maritime borders and airspace arose in response to actions taken by The People's Republic of De Yuan, or simply Great Yuan. The Kalean Maritime Patrol (KMP) was then established in 1985 as a naval branch of the KDF comprised of volunteer municipal militias that are based out of major coastal municipalities. Several naval vessels were constructed over the span of ten years to create the flotilla necessary to complete this new branch. It now consists of eight corvettes, five gunboats, and two frigates. The Kalean Air Patrol (KAP) was established alongside the KMP in 1985 as an aerial branch of the KDF comprised of volunteer municipal militias that are based out of major municipalities.

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  Flag of the Kalean Democratic Forces (KDF)

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  Flag of the Kalean Maritime Patrol (KMP)

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  Flag of the Kalean Air Patrol (KAP)

Modernization program

In 1965, realizing the military was severely undermodernized, as the Army was still using almost century-old muskets and caplock pistols and was just starting to use vehicles as means of transportation for the KDF, the Executive Council, against the advice of the Legislative Assembly who advised purchasing from other countries, implemented a plan for a series of modernization programs for military equipment. Series One had advisors sent to observe top militaries from aorund the world and report back on their weapons and equipment designs. Series Two implemented a research and development team to design and develop prototype weapons and equipment for use by the KDF. Series Three would test and determine the applicability of the designs, in which any entrants achieving performance 100% better than the baseline for a successful weapon would be sent back to Series Two. Successful weapons designs from Series Two and Three were the Pū Laipala Advanced Combat Rifle Type 12 (PLACR or just ACR-12), a prototype flechette-firing assault rifle, and the Pū Panapana Type 5 (commonly referred to as Pū or Type 5), a semi-automatic pistol. The only satisfactory design for a military vehicle was the Mea Lawe Pūʻali Koa (MLPK). The two successful designs for artillery were the Pūkuniahi Type 22 (PT-22), a 152 mm towed heavy howitzer with a 32 caliber barrel, and the Pu Kuniahi Liilii Type 9 (PKL), a 81 millimeter mortar. The only successful design for a main battle tank was the Honu Type 2 (HT-2). The only successful military aircraft design was the Mokulele Type 4 (MT-4), a multirole combat aircraft, and was the last design to be implemented. The Series Four, the last of the series, oversaw the mass production and implementation of successful designs. The modernization program took a total of twenty years and ended in 1985. Towards the end of the modernization program, several naval vessels were commissioned to be built, all of which would not enter service for another three to four years.

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  Pū Laipala Advanced Combat Rifle Type 12 (PLACR or just ACR-12)

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  Pū Panapana Type 5 (commonly referred to as Pū or Type 5)

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  Mea Lawe Pūʻali Koa (MLPK)

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  Pūkuniahi Type 22 (PT-22)

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  Pu Kuniahi Liilii Type 9 (PKL)

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  Honu Type 2 (HT-2)

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  Mokulele Type 4 (MT-4)

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  Makai-class Frigate

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  Ho’omau-class Corvette

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  Lanakila-class Gunboat

Notable conflicts

• Republic of Mokupuni coup (1783 CE)
• Military intervention and relief in the Taupoese Civil War (ongoing)
• Jinchon Sea crisis (ongoing)

Foreign relations

Kalea has a strict policy of non-association when it comes to foreign relations. It currently has no foreign status with any other foreign nation. However, events in the recent century with their neighbor to the east The People's Republic of De Yuan, or simply Great Yuan, has forced Kalea to hold suspicions on their motivations. As a result of the actions of Great Yuan, Kalea has acknowledged and endorsed the sovereignty of Zamastanian control of Gangkou, largely as a move to deter Yuaneze influence.

Many youth movements support a policy of opening and maintaining foreign relations with other foreign nations around the globe. This came as a result of the Kalean response to the legal status of Gangkou. Notable youth politicians such as Co-Chair Eleu Kamea of the Democratic Confederalist Party are in support of these movements and has made several recent comments on some upcoming legislation that if passed will open further foreign relations with neighboring foreign nations, most notably the Imperial Republic of Zamastan, or simply Zamastan.

Kalea attended the 2022 CCA Leaders Summit. Head of State Co-President Pika Akamai and Co-Chair of the Legislative Assembly Eleu Kamea shall were in attendance.

After recent Yuaneze military actions, violating the sovereignty of another nation by flying military aircraft through its airspace and blaming the tragedy of a sunk Yuaneze naval vessel on another nation, several government officials, most notably both Co-Presidents Alana Kalama and Pika Akamai and both Co-Chairs Eleu Kamea and Na'au Kealoha, the Kalean government has spoken out against the Yuaneze government for these actions. Co-Chair Kamea made use of this by including it during her recent 2022 presidential campaign rally. Co-Chairs Kamea and Kealoha called a special session of the Kalean Legislative Assembly on May 17th to discuss further actions against Yuan. Reports of Yuan firing on and sinking a commercial trade vessel helped to initiate a preliminary vote as to the question of condemning the Yuaneze government for their continued actions near Gangkou during this particular crisis, a vote which succeeded 241 to 12. Legislators will begin drafting legislation to officiate the results and a formal vote will be held by the end of the week. The possibility of increasing the readiness of the Kalean Democratic Forces as a precaution for any possibility of retaliatory actions on the part of the Yuaneze government was also discussed, as it was mentioned by one legislator that they "wouldn't put it past them." A brief mention of joining WEDA, otherwise known as the Western Euronia Defense Alliance or the Olympic Defense Alliance, was brought up by one legislator but was quickly dismissed by the rest of the attending body. Co-Chair Kamea said she is saddened by what is happening but hopes the recent events are "a wake-up call to my fellow legislators that it's becoming more and more obvious Kalea cannot remain on the world's sidelines any longer."

2022 Election

The 2022 Kalean Elections have kicked off with a total of 257 open seats in the Kalean Legislative Assembly, an increase of four more seats from 253 in the last election four years ago. This year will see a surprising amount of younger candidates, a large percentage of them all sharing similar sentiments of increasing Kalean involvement around the world. So far, only a handful of candidates have announced their intent to run for the Co-Presidency, among them Co-Chair Eleu Kamea, which if elected will become the youngest person to ever be elected Co-President of Kalea, and incumbent Co-President Alana Kalama for re-election. If elected, Co-President Kalama will become the longest-sitting Co-President with having been elected to serve three terms.

Economy

Kalea is administered by a coalition that bases its policy ambitions to a large extent on the libertarian socialist ideology of democratic confederalism and has been described as pursuing a model of economy that blends co-operative and market enterprise, through a system of local councils in minority, cultural and religious representation.

The history of Kalea's economy can be traced through a succession of dominant industries: sandalwood, whaling, sugarcane, pineapple, the military, tourism and education. The majority of its exports include food and clothing. The country's food exports include coffee, macadamia nuts, pineapple, livestock, sugarcane and honey.

Energy

Petroleum provides nearly nine-tenths of all the energy consumed in Kalea. The transportation sector leads energy demand in Kalea due in large part to heavy jet fuel use by military installations and commercial airlines. Petroleum-fired power plants supply more than three-fourths of Kalea's electricity generation. Generation from coal and several renewable sources, including hydroelectricity, geothermal, landfill gas, and other biomass, supply the remainder. Due to the mild tropical climate, many households do not require energy for home heating. After the DCP formed a coalition with the SP and PSP, recently passed legislation has implemented a Green New Deal compromise to begin switching to more sustainable, renewable, and clean energy sources based upon DCP party core beliefs of environmental sustainability and social ecology.

Industry

According to the Kalea Agricultural Statistics Service, agricultural sales were KD$370.9 million from diversified agriculture, KD$100.6 million from pineapple, and KD$64.3 million from sugarcane. Kalea's relatively consistent climate has attracted the seed industry, which is able to test three generations of crops per year on the islands, compared with one or two on the mainland. Seeds yielded KD$264 million in 2012, supporting 1,400 workers. Since 1959, tourism has been the largest industry, contributing 24.3% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 1997, despite efforts to diversify.

Infrastructure

In 2015, it was reported by the Kalean Executive Council that 74% of the population had access to improved sanitation, and that "good progress" had been made between 1990 and 2015. As of 2016, 96% of Kalean households have an improved source of drinking water, and 92% of households had sanitary toilet facilities, although connections of these toilet facilities to appropriate sewerage systems remain largely insufficient especially in rural and urban poor communities. Building infrastructure remains an issue during times of excessive rainfall due to surgent monsoons. However, several construction projects are underway in several major cities to construct floodwalls and a series of artificial flow paths to control water flow and mitigate the effects of monsoons.

Transportation

A system of highways encircles each main island. Narrow, winding roads and congestion in populated places can slow traffic. Each major island has a public bus system. Heiai International Airport is the major commercial aviation hub of Kalea. Until air passenger services began in the 1920s, private boats were the sole means of traveling between the islands. Kalea has a network of railroads on each of the larger islands that transports commodities and passengers.

Demographics

The population of Kalea as of 2021 is estimated to be around 7.81 million. An overwhelming majority of around 94% of the population is homogeneously Native Kalean, while the remaining 4% of the population is divided between around 3% being ethnically part of the Ni'ihau tribe and 3% part of other ethnicities.

An estimated 1.1 million people reside in Heiau and the immediate surrounding area, just over 14% of the entire population, making the capital the most densely populated city in Kalea. Despite its population size and density, it is the most beautiful city in Kalea.

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Education

Kalea is often praised for leading the way towards better and more equal education, and the Kalean education systems do stand out. Education is free and publicly funded in Kalea, and the welfare-state mentality makes way for an inclusive and cooperative way of learning. The basic principles entail that everyone should have the same educational opportunities, regardless of their social or economic background. Kalean populations are becoming increasingly educated, and over 22% of Kaleans had attained a higher education of three years or more in 2019. Kalean women in particular are climbing the educational ladder, notably in the province of Hema where females recently outnumbered men in higher education.

Religion

Religion in Kalea is dominated by just over half (50%) of the population practicing Pūlahism, while just under a third (29%) of the population practices Kaoism. Pūlahism and Kaoism form a close relationship in Kalea with either of the religions influencing the other. The remaining population is either Atheist (14%), or adheres to Ni'ihau folk religion (3%) or another religion (4%). The Ni'ihau folk religion is rarely seen outside of the Ni'ihau community.

Pūlahism

Pūlahism is a localized Kalean religion or philosophical tradition based on a series of original teachings attributed to Pūlah. It originated in Kalea sometime between the 17th and 18th centuries CE, spreading through much of Kalea. It is Kalea's largest religion with just under four million followers, or just over 50% of the Kalean population, known as Pūlahists. Pūlahism encompasses a variety of traditions, teachings, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on the Pūlah's teachings and resulting interpreted philosophies.

As expressed in the Pūlah's Four Noble Truths, the goal of Pūlahism is to overcome suffering caused by desire and ignorance of reality's true nature, including impermanence and the non-existence of the self. Most Pūlahist traditions emphasize transcending the individual self through the attainment of their "Pūlah" nature or by following the path of Pūlahhood, ending the cycle of death and rebirth. Pūlahist schools vary in their interpretation of the path to liberation, the relative importance and canonicity assigned to the various Pūlahist texts, and their specific teachings and practices. Widely observed practices include meditation, observance of moral precepts, monasticism, taking refuge in the Pūlah, the Ka Pona ("the right", referring to right or righteous action) and the Halawai ("meeting"), and the cultivation of the Nā Pona ("virtues").

Kaoism

Kaoism is a philosophical and spiritual tradition of Kalean origin which emphasizes living in harmony with the Ke Ala. In Kaoism, the Ke Ala is the source, pattern and substance of everything that exists. Kaoism teaches about the various disciplines for achieving "perfection" by becoming one with the unplanned rhythms of the all, called "the way" or "Ke Ala". Kaoist ethics vary depending on the particular school, but in general tend to emphasize hana me ka manao ole ("action without intention"), naturalness, simplicity, spontaneity and the Three Treasures: compassion, frugality and humility.

Ni'ihau mythology

Ni'hai folk religion encompasses the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of native Kaleans. It is polytheistic and animistic, with a belief in many deities and spirits, including the belief that spirits are found in non-human beings and objects such as other animals, the waves, and the sky.

Ni'ihau folk religion originated among the Kaleans who landed in Kalea between 1000 and 1200 CE. Today, Kalean religious practices are protected by the Indigenous Rights Freedom Act. Traditional Ni'ihau folk religion is practiced and survived by the Ni'ihau tribe and is aptly named after them for that.

Language

The Kalean language (ʻŌlelo Kalea) is a language that is part of the Toyanan language family that takes its name from Kalea Apekalmoa, the founder of Kalea. It developed among the indigenous peoples of the Kalean island chain and is one of only a few languages in the Toyanan language family, the other being the Ni'ihau dialect of Kalean and several other dialects that are no longer spoken. Kalean is the official language of Kalea. Kalea Apekalmoa established the first Kalean-language constitution in 1839 and 1840 in an effort to further unite the peoples of Kalea under one coherent language.

The Kalean alphabet has 13 letters: five vowels: a e i o u (each with a long pronunciation and a short one) and eight consonants: he ke la mu nu pi we, including a glottal stop called ʻokina. Long vowel pronunciation is expressed in the form of the macron. A modern Kalean name for the macron symbol is kahakō (kaha 'mark' + kō 'long'). It was formerly known as mekona (Kaleanization of macron). It can be written as a diacritical mark that looks like a hyphen or dash written above a vowel, i.e., ā ē ī ō ū and Ā Ē Ī Ō Ū. It is used to show that the marked vowel is a "double", or "geminate", or "long" vowel, in phonological terms.

Kalean originally was a spoken language, but when Kalea Apekalmoa began creating the first Kalean-language constitution he realized a script would be necessary for the promulgation and standardization of a Kalean language. The writing script of Kalean was originally based on the English alphabet. To emphasize the obvious differences between English and Kalean, several changes had to be made. These changes came in the form of the macron (kahakō or mekona) and the glottal stop (ʻokina).

A recent movement to create a new, individualized Kalean script has slowly gained traction. This new script is called Pī‘āpā Hou. It is an alternative alphabet for Kalean. The name Pī‘āpā Hou means “new alphabet” in Kalean. It is based on the English alphabet conventionally used for writing Kalean, and therefore includes the macron (kahakō or mekona) as well as the glottal stop (‘okina). However, the letters themselves were inspired by shapes found throughout nature in Kalea. Its direction of writing is left to right in horizontal lines.

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Another alternative script created as a part of the new Kalean script movement is Mele Kākau. The name Mele Kākau means "Rhythm Writing" and comes from the Kalean words mele (rhythm) and kākau (to write). Its direction of writing is also left to right in horizontal lines. However, unlike Pī‘āpā Hou, this script is a syllabary and not an alphabet. One downside noted among linguists and other critics is that this script has no way of differentiating between long and short vowels, with some accrediting that to being a simple oversight and not done on purpose.

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Culture

Music and art

The music of Kalea includes traditional and popular styles, ranging from native Kalean folk music to modern rock and hip hop. Styles such as slack-key guitar are well known worldwide. Traditional Kalean folk music is a major part of the country's musical heritage. The Kalean people have inhabited the islands for centuries and have retained much of their traditional musical knowledge. Their music is largely religious in nature and includes chanting and dance music.

The art created in the Kalean islands may be divided into three categories; art produced before exposure to the outside world; art produced by recently arrived foreigners; and art produced by Kaleans incorporating foreign materials, ideas and concepts. Public collections of Kalean art may be found at the Heiau Museum of Art and the Kalean National Art Museum.

Cuisine

Kalean cuisine consists of a mix of indigenous plants and animals native to Kalea. 'Awa (Piper methysticum, kava) is a traditional food among Kaleans. Popular condiments included paʻakai (salt), ground kukui nut, limu (seaweed), and ko (sugarcane) which was used as both a sweet and a medicine. Men did all of the cooking, and food for women was cooked in a separate imu; afterward men and women ate meals separately per the ancient kapu (taboo) of separating the genders for meals. This kapu was abolished in 1819 by the Kalean Executive Council at the behest of Kalea's founder Kalea Apekalmoa. Staple ingredients include kalo (taro), 'uala (sweet potato), 'ulu (breadfruit), i'a (fish) and hāpu'u 'i'i (Kalean tree fern). Traditional Kalean meals include:

• Kalua, pig cooked underground in an imu.
• Poi (pronounced po-ee) is made from cooked, mashed, and sometimes lightly fermented taro. It is the starch staple of the native Kalean diet.
• Laulau is made with beef, pork, or chicken and salted butterfish wrapped in taro leaves and then ti leaves. It was traditionally prepared in an imu.
• Poke (pronounced po-keh) is a raw marinated fish or other seafood salad (such as ahi poke or octopus poke). It is made with sea salt, seaweed, kukui nut oil and in more recent times with soy sauce and sesame oil. Most cooked foods eaten by Native Kaleans were prepared either through steaming, boiling, or slow cooking in underground ovens known as imu. Due to their lack of non-flammable cooking vessels, steaming and boiling were achieved by heating rocks in fires and placing the hot rocks in bowls of water. Many other foods, such as fruits and most seafood, were eaten raw.
• Lūʻau (pronounced Loo-ow) is made with coconut milk cooked with taro leaves in a pot. It has a creamy consistency. Squid is usually cooked with this dish, but chicken is sometimes substituted for the squid.
• Haupia (pronounced how-pee-ah) is a flan-like dessert made with coconut milk and ground arrowroot. Cornstarch has become a widespread substitute for the arrowroot.
• Ko'ele palau (pronounced ko-ele pa-lao) is a dessert made from cooked sweet potato mashed and mixed with coconut milk.
• Inamona is a traditional relish or condiment often accompanied meals and is made of roasted and mashed kukui nutmeats, and sea salt. It is sometimes mixed with edible seaweed.
• Kulolo (pronounced ku-lo-lo) is a pudding dessert made from grated taro corm and coconut milk that's baked in an imu, having a fudge-like consistency.
• Piele is another Kalean pudding similar to Kulolo, with grated sweet potato or breadfruit mixed with coconut cream and baked.

Sports

Due to its geographical location, team sports in Kalea are characterized by youth, collegial and amateur teams over professional teams, although some professional sports teams have at one time played in the state. Notable professional teams include the Kalean Olympic Teams. Kaleans have found success in the world of sumo wrestling and mixed martial arts. Surfing has been a central part of Kalean culture for centuries. Since the late 19th century, Kalea has become a major site for surfers from around the world. Kalea has produced elite-level swimmers as well.

Customs and etiquette

Some key customs and etiquette in Kalea are as follows: when visiting a home, it is considered good manners to bring a small gift for one's host (for example, a dessert). Thus, parties are usually in the form of potlucks. Most locals take their shoes off before entering a home. It is customary for Kalean families, regardless of ethnicity, to hold a luau to celebrate a child's first birthday. It is also customary at Kelean weddings for the bride and groom to do a money dance (also called the pandanggo).

Ni'ihau tribe

The 2010 census states that there were 170 people living on the island of Ni'ihau. However, witness accounts estimate that the population actually ranges between 35 and 50 people. A majority of the members of the Ni'ihau tribe reside outside of the island to seek better opportunities for themselves or their families, but many maintain a close relationship with their community. Some support themselves largely by subsistence fishing and farming, while others depend on welfare. All residents of Ni'ihau live rent-free, and meat is free. Ni'ihau has no telephone services and no paved roads. Horses are the main form of transportation; bicycles are also used. There are no power lines; solar power provides all electricity. There is no plumbing or running water on the island. Water comes from rainwater catchment. The Ni'ihau tribe established most of these conditions. There is no hotel, and barges deliver groceries from nearby islands, often purchased by the tribe's chief, with free shipping. Much of Ni'ihau culture is rooted in Ni'ihau folk religion.