Secrets of Lomilomi - Kahuli and Kahela
My husband, Mark Chai, is one of the featured artists at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center in a show based on the book, The Epic Tale of Hi'iakaikapoliopele. This book is the translation of the tale as it first appeared in a Hawaiian language newspaper at the turn of the century. Lead translator Puakea Nogelmeier spoke at the art opening and said that one of the ways the Hawaiians kept alive their mana'o (knowledge) about healing was by giving the chants, prayers and remedies in the legends.
That inspired me to go back and read the part of the story where Hi'iaka revives Lohi'au from death. I knew that she gave him lomilomi to do it. I hadn't realized that it took her a month. Her treatment began by rubbing oil on his body for many days. She says, "Kahuli and Kahela are the oils I shall use." What are these Kahuli and Kahela oils???
In the index of the Hi'iaka book, I see Kahuli, Kahela is the supine woman who owns the 'awa drinking house. I remember Auntie Margaret used oils blended with 'awa.
I loved the neatness of the 'awa explanation, but then found another reference to Kahela and Kahuli in the book, Kepelino's Traditions, p. 185, in a Prayer to the God, Alalalahe, the god of love. A footnote states, "Kahuli and Kahela refer to the billows of the ocean Haalewawahilani, now the Arctic Ocean."
Then one morning I woke up knowing that kahuli was in the first line of the Kumulipo and wondering if kahela was in it. John Charlot notes that the second section (lines 8b--14) invokes female goddesses - the first in a sexual position: "Oh Kahela, the female who lies down with her face up." That is, supine, as is the 'awa drinking woman. Charlot says she is called upon to be active: E ala!
The next lines describe the rain, mists, and spray, traditional poetic symbols for sexual activity. Then comes the wave from Kahiki, origin of the gods, stressing the godly character of the mating. This section ends: E ola! "May there be healthy, vigorous life! May it live!"
I've also discovered that Kahuli-ali'i and Kahela are the names of stars, and of course kahela and hela refer to several hula steps.
How wonderful the ways of Hawaiians! What does this all mean?
We must remember that they speak in poetry. To fully understand this we must not only know Hawaiian, but about the legends, the lands, the plants, the 'olelo no'eau and more. There is so much more research that can be done on these two words. Are they in Kamakau, Malo, and elsewhere? Are there medicinal plants with these names? Are there place names that include these words? What is the meaning of a woman supine?
I am not adept at any of that. Being Western educated, I am quite lineal and literal (being a lawyer only makes it worse)! Having said that - One of the persistent quiet things that has been said about lomilomi is that there is a sexual component to it, as discussed in the Appendix on Temple Style in my Na Mo'olelo Lomilomi book.
The word kahuli means a complete turning, reversal, and that is what is sought in raising Lohi'au from the dead. Kahela, if it invokes a sacred mating, we can see it naturally being necessary before a rebirth.
I invite you to share your mana'o about these words. Have you heard or seen them before? What do Kahuli and Kahela mean to you to help in understanding the true meaning of lomilomi?
update:
Kahuli is the name of land snails that make a singing sound. Also, in the myth of Haumea as the patroness of childbirth, it is said, "The name of the remedy [for childbirth] is Ka-lau-o-ke-kahuli and its blossom is Kani-ka-wi. It is a tree to be fondled and its blossom is beautiful. The girl ate of it according to instructions. When the child was coming Muleiula felt it being forced out by the plant. Haumea pressed herself against the thigh. After the baby was born, through Haumea’s power the tree rose and flew and landed at Puʻukumu, Waihee, on Maui, and there it grew."
Mythologically, the dunes that run from Iao Stream to Waihee were built by the goddess Haumea to protect the sacred tree Kalaukekahuli. According to Fisher, the Hawaiians believed that Haumea, goddess of childbirth, built them to protect an ancient “tree of changing leaves” called Kalaukekahuli. In the story, she is given this tree in reward for a painless delivery, and plants it at Pu‘ukumu, a hill behind the site where Waihe‘e School now stands. Legend holds that while Haumea is away, a man climbs the dunes and cuts the tree down. For 20 days and nights a storm rages and the tree washes out to sea. But branches show up on shore, and from these spring various gods—sacred images are carved in the wood, and different heiau are built to house them on Maui.
Kolekolea is another name for kahuli (land snails) and for moana (goatfish). Interestingly, Koleamoku is connected with healing.
Research continues!
That inspired me to go back and read the part of the story where Hi'iaka revives Lohi'au from death. I knew that she gave him lomilomi to do it. I hadn't realized that it took her a month. Her treatment began by rubbing oil on his body for many days. She says, "Kahuli and Kahela are the oils I shall use." What are these Kahuli and Kahela oils???
In the index of the Hi'iaka book, I see Kahuli, Kahela is the supine woman who owns the 'awa drinking house. I remember Auntie Margaret used oils blended with 'awa.
I loved the neatness of the 'awa explanation, but then found another reference to Kahela and Kahuli in the book, Kepelino's Traditions, p. 185, in a Prayer to the God, Alalalahe, the god of love. A footnote states, "Kahuli and Kahela refer to the billows of the ocean Haalewawahilani, now the Arctic Ocean."
Then one morning I woke up knowing that kahuli was in the first line of the Kumulipo and wondering if kahela was in it. John Charlot notes that the second section (lines 8b--14) invokes female goddesses - the first in a sexual position: "Oh Kahela, the female who lies down with her face up." That is, supine, as is the 'awa drinking woman. Charlot says she is called upon to be active: E ala!
The next lines describe the rain, mists, and spray, traditional poetic symbols for sexual activity. Then comes the wave from Kahiki, origin of the gods, stressing the godly character of the mating. This section ends: E ola! "May there be healthy, vigorous life! May it live!"
I've also discovered that Kahuli-ali'i and Kahela are the names of stars, and of course kahela and hela refer to several hula steps.
How wonderful the ways of Hawaiians! What does this all mean?
We must remember that they speak in poetry. To fully understand this we must not only know Hawaiian, but about the legends, the lands, the plants, the 'olelo no'eau and more. There is so much more research that can be done on these two words. Are they in Kamakau, Malo, and elsewhere? Are there medicinal plants with these names? Are there place names that include these words? What is the meaning of a woman supine?
I am not adept at any of that. Being Western educated, I am quite lineal and literal (being a lawyer only makes it worse)! Having said that - One of the persistent quiet things that has been said about lomilomi is that there is a sexual component to it, as discussed in the Appendix on Temple Style in my Na Mo'olelo Lomilomi book.
The word kahuli means a complete turning, reversal, and that is what is sought in raising Lohi'au from the dead. Kahela, if it invokes a sacred mating, we can see it naturally being necessary before a rebirth.
I invite you to share your mana'o about these words. Have you heard or seen them before? What do Kahuli and Kahela mean to you to help in understanding the true meaning of lomilomi?
update:
Kahuli is the name of land snails that make a singing sound. Also, in the myth of Haumea as the patroness of childbirth, it is said, "The name of the remedy [for childbirth] is Ka-lau-o-ke-kahuli and its blossom is Kani-ka-wi. It is a tree to be fondled and its blossom is beautiful. The girl ate of it according to instructions. When the child was coming Muleiula felt it being forced out by the plant. Haumea pressed herself against the thigh. After the baby was born, through Haumea’s power the tree rose and flew and landed at Puʻukumu, Waihee, on Maui, and there it grew."
Mythologically, the dunes that run from Iao Stream to Waihee were built by the goddess Haumea to protect the sacred tree Kalaukekahuli. According to Fisher, the Hawaiians believed that Haumea, goddess of childbirth, built them to protect an ancient “tree of changing leaves” called Kalaukekahuli. In the story, she is given this tree in reward for a painless delivery, and plants it at Pu‘ukumu, a hill behind the site where Waihe‘e School now stands. Legend holds that while Haumea is away, a man climbs the dunes and cuts the tree down. For 20 days and nights a storm rages and the tree washes out to sea. But branches show up on shore, and from these spring various gods—sacred images are carved in the wood, and different heiau are built to house them on Maui.
Kolekolea is another name for kahuli (land snails) and for moana (goatfish). Interestingly, Koleamoku is connected with healing.
Research continues!
posted by Makana Risser Chai at
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