Hau

"Immediately, a strange feeling overwhelmed him. As if a cushion of strength had settled in around him, protecting him from all harm."

- Narrator, Tale of the Toa

The Kanohi Hau is the Mask of Shielding. It allows its user to protect themselves from any physical attack they are aware of by throwing up a force shield. The only difference between the Great and Noble versions is that the Great version forms a stronger and longer-lasting shield than the Noble one.

Kanohi Hau are made from Growth and Regeneration Kanoka on Metru Nui.

Lhikan's Hau
A very famous Kanohi Hau is Lhikan's. It was worn by the Toa for an unknown amount of time, and was transformed into its Noble version when he became a Turaga. Before he died, he entrusted it to Vakama, who later gave the mask to Jaller on Mata Nui after Jaller's Kanohi broke. Jaller then wore it for over 1,000 years, until Karzahni forced him to exchange it for a powerless Kanohi Calix. Shortly afterwards, while battling Makuta Icarax, Gali Nuva unleashed a Nova Blast, destroying Karzahni and bringing the mask afloat. Tahu then retrieved it. It was then left on Daxia by the Toa Nuva. Its status after the island's destruction is unknown.

Example Usage

 * Great: In the Mata Nui Online Game, Onua used his Kanohi Hau to protect himself from an attack by an infected Lewa.
 * Noble: Turaga Lhikan used his Noble Hau to protect himself from Teridax's shadow hand in Legends of Metru Nui.

Great

 * Toa Mata Tahu - Formerly primary mask; exchanged for a Golden Kanohi.
 * Toa Mata Lewa - Formerly secondary mask; exchanged for a Golden Kanohi.
 * Toa Mata Pohatu - Formerly secondary mask; exchanged for a Golden Kanohi.
 * Toa Mata Gali - Formerly secondary mask; exchanged for a Golden Kanohi.
 * Toa Mata Kopaka - Formerly secondary mask; exchanged for a Golden Kanohi.
 * Toa Mata Onua - Formerly secondary mask; exchanged for a Golden Kanohi.
 * Toa Mangai Lhikan - Formerly; became Noble when he transformed into a Turaga.

Matoran

 * Kumo
 * Lumi
 * Marka
 * Pekka
 * Zemya

Noble

 * Lhikan - Formerly, now deceased; mask given to Jaller by Vakama after death.
 * Matoran Jaller - Formerly; given to Karzahni upon entrance to his realm.

Set Information
The Kanohi Hau was first released as the color red with the 2001 Tahu set. Released at the same time was a Kanohi Hau hand-painted with the marks typical of Infected Kanohi, included in the "Muaka and Kane-Ra" set and randomly included in several Kanohi mask packs. Kanohi packs could also include the Hau in red, blue, green, white, black, or brown. McDonalds restaurants released a set of the Matoran Jaller in Happy Meals during the month of September that contained a yellow Kanohi Hau in this same shape, later released worldwide in the 2003 "Jaller and Gukko" set.

In 2001, LEGOLAND Park in Carlsbad, California, released a model of the Kanohi Hau made with basic LEGO bricks. It came in green, red, and blue; each had 168 pieces. In various promotional events, a 14-karat solid gold Kanohi Hau was released as a prize. This version of the mask came with a chain which could be put through two holes in the back of the mask. The theme of these events was usually tied to the Golden Kanohi which the Toa Mata would obtain after the collection of all their masks.

The Krana packs of early 2002 contained one of six gold or silver-colored masks, including the Kanohi Hau.

In 2004, a golden Kanohi Hau of a new shape was released with the Lhikan and Kikanalo set, worn by Toa Lhikan.

Trivia

 * The Kanohi Hau is the symbol of the Great Spirit Mata Nui, as their functions are the same: to protect.
 * The Coliseum's gate is in the shape of Lhikan's Great Kanohi Hau.
 * An enormous Kanohi Hau is located in Artakha.
 * In the Toa Empire Alternate Universe, Teridax wears a Kanohi Hau which appears infected since his Kanohi Kraahkan had been taken from him.