Ahulani Kachina Folklore and Meaning

Ahulani makes his quiet appearance rather late in the afternoon of the sixth day of the Soyal Ceremony when he rises rather than creakily from one of the kivas with his two maidens. He and his two maids function almost exactly as does the Soyal Kachina of third mesa in that no other kachina may appear before them. In essence he is the announcer of the coming Kachina season just as is Soyal. However, Ahulani, Kachina Mana and Sakwap Mana appear during the Soyal rather than sixteen days before. Together the trio arrange themselves near the Kiva hatchway and face east. Ahulani plants his staff firmly on the ground and they begin to sing. As each chorus is finished they pace slowly forward a step for each part of the song until it is completed. Making his dignified way to the plaza, followed by the two manas with their burdens of corn, he repeats the same ritual there and in other parts of the village, before they return to the kiva and disappear. This ceremonial circuit of the village, bearing token corn, is the last act before the seed corn that has been concentrated in the kiva is returned to the owners . Ahulani appears in two very distinct forms; one variety is seen only on the years when the Snake Dance is held on first mesa and the other when the Flute Dance  is held on that mesa. As he accompanied by maidens bearing seed corn in trays, Ahulani does not carry a tray in this performance. Rather he holds a staff in his right hand and chieftain gear in his left hand.