Kanohi

"You must not remove your masks, unless you are replacing one with another. Without them, your strength is halved."
— Toa Helryx to the Toa Mata, Swamp of Secrets

Kanohi
Object
Manufacturer	Great Beings Artakha Mask Makers
Users	Matoran/Toa/Turaga Makuta Kestora Others
Function	Provide power(s) to their wearers
Status	In use
Location	Matoran Universe (formerly) Red Star Spherus Magna
Pronunciation	kah-NO-hee

Kanohi are masks worn by many inhabitants of the Matoran Universe. Many Kanohi grant their wearers powers, and some species must wear masks to function at full capacity.

The Great Beings created the first Kanohi for the Matoran. Afterwards, Mata Nui taught the Matoran how to make masks on their own. On Metru Nui, masks were made from Kanoka.

Properties

Kanohi attach magnetically to their wearers. Many sapient species can wear Kanohi on their faces, and some species of Rahi can wear them on other body parts. Different species rely on the masks to different degrees. When not wearing Kanohi, Matoran, Toa, and Turaga experience negative physical effects: if their masks are not replaced, Toa feel weak and dizzy, Turaga suffer extreme weakness, and Matoran lapse into a coma-like state. Makuta also must wear masks or else their Antidermis will leak out and they will eventually die. Some beings, such as Axonn and Brutaka, do not need to wear Kanohi, but like Toa, they are weaker without them. Others still can wear Kanohi but do not suffer negative effects from not doing so.

Some Kanohi contain a power that the wearer can access through focus, discipline, and willpower. Because Kanohi contain a finite amount of energy, their powers fade after much use and cannot be recharged. If powered Kanohi are cracked or broken, they may not function properly or at all.

Kanohi masks can be stored in a Suva shrine when not in use. If the Suva is linked to a Toa, that Toa can mentally summon Kanohi masks to them, switching between masks by teleporting their old mask to their Suva and their new mask to their face.

Kanohi come in a variety of designs. By convention, mask makers forge Kanohi in standard shapes that identify their powers and power levels. Nonetheless, mask makers find room for artistic flair; for example, Lhikan's Kanohi Hau reflected a regional style, and keen eyes could even recognize the work of individual mask makers. Certain Kanohi, such as those worn by Teridax's Toa Hagah, were deliberately forged in shapes that do not match their powers. With few exceptions, Kanohi do not have a fixed color; they adopt their wearers' color schemes and default to a dull gray when not worn. Powerless masks worn by Matoran do not have this function and are instead colored manually during their production.

Kanohi are intimately linked to the wearer and contain a portion of their spirit, thus retaining an imprint of their consciousness and identity for a short time after being removed. Recently deceased beings can be resurrected using this imprint by infusing their mask with great amounts of life force.

Types

Power Levels

There are four known power levels for a Kanohi: Powerless, Noble, Great, and Legendary.

Powerless Kanohi

The most common type of mask is the powerless masks worn by Matoran. The process used to make the mask causes the energy to leak out, which is why these masks have no powers. However, they are needed for Matoran to live and function properly. Although Matoran can wear and sense the power in a Great or Noble mask, they lack the mental discipline needed to access its powers. Powerless Kanohi were typically forged from level 1 through level 6 Kanoka, however the difference between the six levels makes no difference on the resulting mask. Matoran masks can become Great masks when their wearer is transformered into a Toa by Toa Power. Powerless masks generally do not have their own assigned shape, instead commonly being forged in either of their powers' respective Great or Noble shape.

Noble Kanohi

Noble masks, which are about half as powerful as Great masks, are worn by Turaga. They are transformed from Great masks when a Toa is turned into a Turaga. Toa, however, can also access the power of Noble Masks. Noble Kanohi are made from a level 7 Kanoka.

Great Kanohi

Great masks offer a much stronger mask power that of Noble Kanohi. While Toa are the most well-known beings to use masks, many other species are known to be able to use mask powers. Most powered masks worn are of the Great variety, and come in a myriad of abilities. Great Kanohi are notably more durable than their less powered versions, and they can even survive in lava for a short time. They are forged from level 8 Kanoka.

Legendary Kanohi

There are some extraordinary Kanohi that possess powers far beyond a normal mask; these are known as Legendary Masks. Only three are known: the Kanohi Vahi, the Mask of Time; the Kanohi Ignika, the Mask of Life; and the Mask of Creation. These masks cannot be worn by ordinary users, and often require special circumstances for their power to be accessed. If destroyed, they would unleash their powers, resulting in the break-down of a fundamental force of the Matoran Universe. They are on a greater power level than Great Masks, and their powers cannot be contained on lower tiers of masks. The Masks of Life and Creation were forged by the Great Beings, while the Mask of Time was forged from a level 9 Disk of Time, which in turn was forged from the Great Disks crafted by Artakha.

Other Types of Kanohi

Adaptive Kanohi

The Adaptive Kanohi were worn by the Toa Nuva as part of Adaptive Armor. These masks were capable of altering their shape alongside the armor. Like their previous masks, these were also Great Kanohi Nuva. In their different forms, these masks adapted various features such as visors, aerial fins, and eye filters.

When Tahu was transformed back into a Toa Mata, his mask ceased to be a Kanohi Nuva, but remained adaptive.

Copper Masks of Victory

On Metru Nui and Mata Nui, powerless copper-colored masks were used as decorative trophies awarded to the winners of sporting events. These could be worn, but usually were not.

Golden Kanohi

Artakha created six masks called Golden Kanohi which had the Great powers of the masks worn by the Toa Mata: Shielding, X-Ray Vision, Speed, Water Breathing, Strength, and Levitation. While these allowed the Toa to access their array of powers without relying on a Toa Suva, they could still only access the powers one at a time, and their powers were not stronger than that of normal Kanohi. They were only in existence for a short time after all six Kanohi had been found by their respective Toa. They were bestowed upon the Toa at the Kini-Nui when the six Kanohi were placed on the Suva. The Golden Kanohi were later transformed into Kanohi Nuva upon being submerged in Energized Protodermis.

Silver Kanohi

Silver Kanohi are a hypothetical mask in the shape of the Great Kanohi of the Toa Mata that each contained the powers of three of their masks. The silver Miru, Akaku, and Kaukau each contain all three powers of levitation, x-ray vision, and underwater breathing. The silver Hau, Pakari, and Kakama each contain all three powers of shielding, strength, and speed. In theory, two silver Kanohi could be traded for a golden Kanohi. These masks never appeared in the storyline.

Infected Kanohi

The dark essence of the Makuta species, the sentient Kraata slugs, are able to corrupt and infect Kanohi, turning the bearer into a servant of the Makuta's will. These were usually powerless masks used by Makuta to control Rahi, but could also control other beings. All masks, even Legendary Kanohi, are vulnerable to being infected. Infected Kanohi can be cleansed by the combined elemental power of six Toa.

Fused Kanohi

Like many Matoran Universe entities, Kanohi are able to fuse. These are typically formed alongside the fusions of Kanohi-wearers, such as when Toa Kaita are formed, and contain the powers of all composite masks. The powers can be activated separately or in combination. As seen with the Matoran Nui formed by Jala, Onepu, Huki, Kongu, Maku, and Matoro, masks are able to fuse despite being of differing power levels. The masks of Kaita remain fused even if removed, however will be dissolved when the rest of the Kaita is dissolved. The masks worn by Toa Kaita were typically given titles that do not relate to their power and usually take the appearance of one of the masks involved in the fusion. The two known examples of Kaita masks are the Rua and Aki, as well as the Rua Nuva and hypothetical Aki Nuva.

Though not worn by a Kaita or Nui fusion, the Mask of Light and Shadow, formed by Energized Protodermis and worn by Takutanuva, share similar traits. However, unlike the masks worn by the Toa Kaita, its appearance consists of half the Avohkii, and half the Kraahkan. The Dark Hunter Prototype also wore a mask created in a fusion.

Mutated Kanohi

In cases where the mask is altered by some kind of mutation (often fusing directly onto the user, such as the Toa Hordika and Nidhiki) the wearer usually loses access to the mask powers. However, when Karzahni was mutated by the Pit Mutagen, his Olisi kept its powers.

Many of the Shadow Matoran also wore masks in mutated forms, typically featuring fangs.

When Gorast was mutated by the Pit Mutagen in Karda Nui, she developed a stinger on her mask which allowed her to consume the inner light of beings.

Kanohi Nuva

More powerful than normal masks, the Kanohi Nuva were created when the Toa Mata were immersed in Energized Protodermis and became the Toa Nuva. When a mask is immersed in Energized Protodermis, it will become a Kanohi Nuva if it is destined to do so. Users of Kanohi Nuva can grant their power to ones surrounding them, and their powers are stronger and/or can last longer. Some powers also possess additional abilities. Kanohi Nuva can exist as both Great and Noble masks. Only Toa Nuva and the hypothetical Turaga Nuva are able to use Kanohi Nuva, however they are also capable of using regular masks.

The only Great Kanohi Nuva in existence are the Toa Nuva's. Were the Toa Nuva to transform into Turaga, their worn masks would become Noble Kanohi Nuva.

Organic Kanohi

Six Great Kanohi were rendered organic and sentient by the lightning from the Red Star that created the Toa Inika. Because they were sentient, the Toa Inika were able to more easily learn and use their powers, with some even being always active on a low level. They were not as sentient as the Kanohi Ignika or krana. They lost these traits when they were transformed into the masks of the Toa Mahri.

Miscellaneous Kanohi Variants

The Makuta wore Great Kanohi forged out of Protosteel. Forged by Artakha, these were specially designed to be able to shapeshift alongside their armor. Some Makuta shapeshifted fangs on their masks, which in some cases were poisonous.

The Toa Mahri wore masks, granted to them by the Kanohi Ignika, that featured additions such as tube-like gills attached to the masks. They were unable to breathe without these masks, and thus were unable to use other masks. Lesovikk, Sarda, and Idris developed similar gills when mutated by the Pit Mutagen.

A Great Kanohi Hau was also part of the Golden Armor, and as a mask functioned identically to a regular Kanohi Hau.

The Kanohi Avohkii worn by Takanuva possessed additional powers compared to hypothetical masks of Light forged from Toa Disks. When Takanuva was attacked by Shadow Leeches, his Kanohi Avohkii reacted to the transformation, however it has since returned to its original shape.

Mask Making

Vakama forging the Kanohi Vahi

On Metru Nui, Kanohi masks were made from Kanoka by Mask Makers in Ta-Metru. The type of Kanoka and its power level determined what kind of mask it would be, and the creators could also combine Kanoka to create different masks. Level 1-6 Kanoka are formed into Matoran masks, Level 7 is turned into Noble, and Level 8 becomes Great. The reason for these distinctions is that power leaks from the Kanoka during Kanohi creation, thus allowing only masks made from higher level Kanoka to have powers. Kanohi could be forged back into Kanoka, however only Noble and Great masks would maintain their power in doing so.

To forge a Kanohi mask, the Kanoka would be melted down and reforged or carved into the desired shape. The masks could not be flawed or else their powers (if the finished product was meant to have any) would leak out. Flawed masks were melted down to make more raw Protodermis. Colors of the powerless masks were determined upon creation, while Masks of Power were naturally gray and only adopted color when worn. Masks would be painted with a coloring additive during the mask making process, to differentiate power level. Powerless Matoran masks would have silver paint added to the top half. The color is apparent even when the masks are not worn, and resists being colored when the mask is worn. On Mata Nui, this coloring eventually faded with time.

While the masks can be in any shape regardless of their power or power level, mask makers have adopted specific shapes for certain powers and power levels, in order to avoid confusion if a Toa is in dire need of a mask. Masks may later change their shape under certain circumstances, such as when they transform to a different power level, or if gifted in memory of another being.

Kanohi were able to be forged from different types of metallic protodermis, as is the case with the masks worn by the Toa Hagah and the masks of the Makuta. Kanohi could also be created on larger scales (such as the giant Kanohi Hau in Artakha) or smaller scales (such as those worn by Kofo-Jaga).

There are other ways to make Kanohi, as Kanohi predated mask makers. One method was to mold a mask directly from purified Protodermis, foregoing the Kanoka stage. However, this makes it difficult to determine the mask's power. Mask making on Metru Nui stopped temporarily while it was was deserted, and resumed briefly when it was again repopulated, and halted finally when the entire Matoran Universe was evacuated. Other places where masks were made include the island of Artakha. The Red Star was able to replicate masks.

Certain devices could be added to Kanohi masks, such as the telescopic eyepiece commonly added to the Akaku and Matatu. These additions could also later be removed without damaging the mask.

Users

• Makuta - Without Kanohi, they are greatly weakened.
• Matoran - Cannot use Kanohi powers, but require Kanohi in order to function. Matoran without Kanohi enter a comatose state.
  • Toa - Can use Great and Noble Kanohi. Without Kanohi, Toa are greatly weakened.
  • Turaga - Can use Noble Kanohi. Without Kanohi, Turaga are greatly weakened.
• Kestora - Cannot use Kanohi powers, but wear them regardless.
• Vortixx
• Axonn's species - Without Kanohi, they are greatly weakened.
• Botar's species
• Brutaka's species - Without Kanohi, they are greatly weakened.
• Carapar's species
• Ehlek's species
• Hydraxon's species
• Kalmah's species
• Lariska's species
• Mantax's species
• Pridak's species
• Sidorak's species
• The Shadowed One's species
• Takadox's species
• Tobduk's species
• Trinuma's species
• Some Rahi - Cannot use Kanohi Powers, but wore powerless (and later infected) masks outfitted to them by the Makuta
• Unique beings
  • Artakha
  • Gaardus
  • Karzahni
  • Umbra - Cannot use Kanohi powers, nor requires a Kanohi in order to function.
  • Vezon - Although normal Skakdi do not have the mental focus necessary to use Kanohi, Vezon has this power due to his unique nature.

Known Kanohi

See Also: Other Kanohi

Great Kanohi

Hau, Great Mask of Shielding	Kaukau, Great Mask of Water Breathing	Miru, Great Mask of Levitation	Kakama, Great Mask of Speed	Pakari, Great Mask of Strength	Akaku, Great Mask of X-Ray Vision
Huna, Great Mask of Concealment	Rau, Great Mask of Translation	Mahiki, Great Mask of Illusion	Komau, Great Mask of Mind Control	Ruru, Great Mask of Night Vision	Matatu, Great Mask of Telekinesis
Calix, Great Mask of Fate	Elda, Great Mask of Detection	Suletu, Great Mask of Telepathy	Sanok, Great Mask of Accuracy	Kadin, Great Mask of Flight	Iden, Great Mask of Spirit
Arthron, Great Mask of Sonar	Faxon, Great Mask of Kindred	Zatth, Great Mask of Summoning	Garai, Great Mask of Gravity	Volitak, Great Mask of Stealth	Tryna, Great Mask of Reanimation
Jutlin, Great Mask of Corruption	Avsa, Great Mask of Hunger	Felnas, Great Mask of Disruption	Mohtrek, Great Mask of Time Duplication	Shelek, Great Mask of Silence	Crast, Great Mask of Repulsion
Pehkui, Great Mask of Diminishment	Great Mask of Clairvoyance	Kualsi, Great Mask of Quick Travel	Great Mask of Emulation	Great Mask of Growth	Great Mask of Rahi Control
Avohkii, Great Mask of Light	Kraahkan, Great Mask of Shadows	Kiril, Great Mask of Regeneration	Rode, Great Mask of Truth	Olmak, Great Mask of Dimensional Gates	Olisi, Great Mask of Alternate Futures
Great Mask of Charisma	Great Mask of Psychometry	Great Mask of Intangibility	Great Mask of Possibilities	Great Mask of Elemental Energy	Great Mask of Mutation
Great Mask of Scavenging

Kanohi Nuva

Hau Nuva, Kanohi Nuva of Shielding	Kaukau Nuva, Kanohi Nuva of Water Breathing	Miru Nuva, Kanohi Nuva of Levitation	Kakama Nuva, Kanohi Nuva of Speed	Pakari Nuva, Kanohi Nuva of Strength	Akaku Nuva, Kanohi Nuva of X-Ray Vision

Noble Kanohi

Huna, Noble Mask of Concealment	Rau, Noble Mask of Translation	Mahiki, Noble Mask of Illusion	Komau, Noble Mask of Mind Control	Ruru, Noble Mask of Night Vision	Matatu, Noble Mask of Telekinesis
Hau, Noble Mask of Shielding	Kaukau, Noble Mask of Water Breathing	Miru, Noble Mask of Levitation	Kakama, Noble Mask of Speed	Pakari, Noble Mask of Strength	Akaku, Noble Mask of X-Ray Vision
Jutlin, Noble Mask of Corruption	Avsa, Noble Mask of Hunger	Shelek, Noble Mask of Silence	Kiril, Noble Mask of Regeneration	Kadin, Noble Mask of Flight	Avohkii, Noble Mask of Light

Legendary Kanohi

Vahi, The Legendary Mask of Time	Ignika, The Legendary Mask of Life	The Legendary Mask of Creation

Fused Kanohi

Aki, Gold Mask of Valor	Rua, Silver Mask of Wisdom	Aki Nuva, Kanohi Nuva of Valor	Rua Nuva, Kanohi Nuva of Wisdom	Mask of Light and Shadow

Miscellaneous Kanohi

Golden Kanohi, Kanohi that contain the powers of the Toa Mata's masks	Infected Kanohi, Kanohi infected by Kraata	Copper Mask of Victory, Powerless masks forged in a copper color

Set Information

Kanohi 2001-2002 Sets
8525 Kanohi (US)	8530 Kanohi (EU)	8559 Krana Pack (EU)	8569 Krana Pack (US)

Kanohi 2003 Sets
8597 Kanohi Nuva (EU)	8598 Kanohi Nuva (US)	8599 Krana-Kal (US)	8600 Krana-Kal (EU)

Kanohi have been featured in several BIONICLE sets from 2001 to 2010, including all Matoran, Toa, Turaga, and Makuta sets as well as sets of other species. They have also been released in several BIONICLE promotions.

Promotional art of Kanohi

In 2001 a "Kanohi" pack was released, containing two Kanohi. These could be any of the Great Kanohi worn by the Toa Mata in any of the colors they wore or any of the Noble Kanohi worn by the Turaga of their villages in any of the colors they wore. A hand-painted Infected Kanohi Hau could also appear as one of the masks, although rarely. A Toa Mata head and eyestalk and an axle piece also appeared in this set so one could display one of these masks on the lid of a Toa Mata canister to simulate a Suva.

In Germany, Nestlé cereal packs included a single Kanohi, potentially even a Copper Kanohi, as a limited-time promotion. The pack also featured a cut-out BIONICLE Kanohi Memory activity on the back and a little prospect with information on each Kanohi as well as information concerning the Toa Mata, the Rahi, BIONICLE: The Legend of Mata Nui, and the Copper Huna itself, although not corresponding to canon.

In 2001, a chrome silver colored Kanohi Rua with the shape of a Hau was also released in the Power Pack.

A krana pack was released in early 2002. Alongside the set's three krana it contained two Golden and/or Silver Kanohi. Each Golden Kanohi contains the powers of all six of the Toa Mata's masks. The Silver Kanohi, while they do not appear anywhere in the story, contain the powers of three great Kanohi each.

In 2003, a krana-kal pack was released. This pack, like its predecessor, contained three metallic-colored krana-kal and two random Kanohi Nuva which, alongside the normal coloring of the Nuva masks, featured rare silver Kanohi Nuva to represent the Toa Nuva's masks when their powers were stolen by the Bohrok-Kal.

Trivia

• The word "Kanohi" can mean "face" in Māori.
• The Silver Kanohi were included in some copies of the 2002 krana packs. The story team developed the Silver Kanohi concept strictly to market the krana packs; the masks never appear in official story material. On the 2003 BIONICLE.com website and in the BIONICLE: Collector's Sticker Book, the masks from the krana pack are instead said to represent the Kanohi Rua, while the Golden Masks represent the Kanohi Aki. In BIONICLE Heroes, the silver masks are described as "Protodermic Kanohi", the same as the silver Kanohi Nuva, representing masks that are either not worn, or worn by a Toa drained of their elemental energies.
• In BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui, the Kanohi masks of the Toa Metru are depicted as glowing when in use. This is non-canonical.
• In early plans for the 2008 story, Av-Matoran and Shadow Matoran could access Kanohi powers. However, the BIONICLE story team later decided that these Matoran cannot use Kanohi, with their mask powers being reworked into the powers the Av-Matoran can access when in contact with a Toa or Makuta.
• Noble Kanohi were known as Mortal Kanohi in the August 2000 revision of the story bible.

See also

• Kanohi/Other Kanohi - Various Kanohi never released in set form.
• Masks of Power - Masks imbued with the elements in the Generation 2 story.
• Gallery:Kanohi

External links

• Archived Copy of the 2002 Kanohi Guide from BIONICLE.com