Hawaiian Massage Lomilomi

Secrets of Lomilomi - Kahuli and Kahela

2009-10-13T09:48:00.007-10:00

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!

Aloha Pali Jae Lee

2009-05-26T22:04:00.002-10:00

Our dear Pali, author of Tales from the Night Rainbow and Ho'opono, passed away a few weeks ago. I miss her! At her memorial service, held at the Friends Meeting House, I could feel her kicking my butt to finish my book on Huna and get it published. I also felt her great love for Hawaiian culture, and it was a pleasure to meet all the others whose lives she had touched. We are so fortunate that she spent some time with us here on earth. Her books are gems that will be treasured forever.

Save the Date - Hawaiian Lomilomi Assoc. conference

2009-03-28T11:40:00.004-10:00

The 10th annual conference of the Hawaiian Lomilomi Association is October 2, 3, 4, 2009. Especially exciting is that this year it will be held on Oahu in the beautiful Ho'maluhia Botanical Gardens. We will be camping in a secluded spot. There will be talks and demonstrations of lomilomi, la'au lapa'au and ho'oponopono. Our beloved elders and teachers will be there, including Aunty Mary Fragas, Kalama Makana'ole, Kaipo Kaneakua and Donald and Yvonne Kaiahua. We'll have music and hula, and lunch is included Friday and Saturday. More speakers will be added as we get closer to the date. For the latest info, go to http://www.hawaiilomilomi.com/conference

Time for abundance thinking

2009-01-15T18:05:00.004-10:00

As we begin the new year, some people are fearful about the economy and how it will affect their practices. In times like these, your regular clients may cut back but they will continue to come. Other clients who used to go to high-priced spas will be looking for less expensive places to get lomilomi. Once they come and experience authentic lomilomi, they will see what they have been missing and become regular clients. Others who usually go on trips will cut back their travel plans and be looking for a half-day "mini vacation" locally. All of these are opportunities for practitioners to expand their practices. Look for ways to suggest to people that the best thing to help them through hard times is a lomilomi.

Another idea is to think back to the kupuna who never accepted money but instead were "paid" in food or services. Now is a great time to offer barter. In fact, one of the reasons I went to massage school was because I thought if things ever got really bad in the economy, I'd better have a skill I could barter.

Stay positive, work hard, and abundance will be yours.

Aloha Papa K

2008-09-09T20:48:00.002-10:00

Rebecca Avery has sent an invitation to us all to a celebration of the life of

Sylvester Keiliwai'olu Kamaka Iki Ali'i Pa'akaula Kamoa Kamoa Kepilino,

"Papa K"

April 8, 1929 - August 26, 2008

Date: Saturday, September 27, 2008
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Place: Community of Christ Church, 1842 Kino'ole St. (corner of Puainako and Kino'ole)in Hilo
Dress: casual

This will be a time for all to share their stories of Papa K. You are
welcome to share your experiences of him. If you would
like to offer a song or dance or something special to the
ceremony please let Rebecca know and she will incorporate it into
the service. She would also welcome any photos you would
like to share. If you have photos to send or want to contact
her please email Rebecca Avery at rebeccaavery@gmail.com
or mail photos to 1856 Kinoole St. Hilo, Hawaii 96720.

Rebecca is putting together a book of stories and pictures of
Papa K's life. If you would like to contribute to that please send
her your written stories or photographs to the above address.

It will be a wonderful afternoon of stories, food
and music to celebrate the life of Papa K.

Please share this invitation with friends and family of Papa K.

How we chose kumu to be in the book

2008-08-03T22:49:00.002-10:00

Someone just asked me what process photographer John Kalani Zak and I went through to pick the kumu lomi in our book, Hawaiian Massage Lomilomi.

We started of course with the luminaries of lomilomi and la'au lapa'au - Henry Auwae, Margaret Machado, Kahu Abraham, Kalua Kaiahua. But we wanted to show the younger generations, too. We called people we knew mostly through the Hawaiian Lomilomi Association. Others I knew from working at the Lomi Shop.

But we always felt it was really God's decision as to who got in the book. Some people were available, others were not. It always seemed to be in Divine Order.

One of my favorite moments came when we met to take pictures of kumu Alva Andrews at Bellows Beach. We envisioned a deserted stretch of sand and sea. Instead, the beach and ocean were teeming with people. As we stood there waiting for Alva and wondering what to do, it began to rain. Then it began to pour. Everyone packed up their stuff and left the beach. 10 minutes later Alva arrived, the sun came out, and we got our pictures.

Mahalo ke Akua!

Hawaiian Lomilomi Association conference

2008-06-15T12:29:00.003-10:00

The annual international Hawaiian Lomilomi Association conference is scheduled for this October, but they need 30 people to sign up this month to make sure it's a go! Please go to http://www.hawaiilomilomi.com/conference to learn more about it, see details if you click on "newsletter."

Kupuna scheduled to attend and present include Alva Andrews, Aunty Mary Fragas, Kaipo Kaneakua, Donald and Yvonne Kaiahua, the grandson of Papa Henry Auwae, with his wife, Papa's haumana, Kehaulani and Jeanella Keopuhiwa, and Dane Kaohelani Silva, plus nose flute musician and healing practitioner Anthony Natividad. All in the beautiful Amy Greenwell garden in Kona.

If you want to learn from the masters, this is the place. In two days you will meet these and many more kumu or teachers of lomilomi. You will learn so much in two days of demonstrations and workshops, and perhaps find the kumu who will lead you in your journey for years to come. Sign up today!

Classes in Hilo area

2008-06-09T16:33:00.002-10:00

August 11-15, 2008 - 5 DAYS OF DISCOVERING HAWAIIAN HEALING ARTS AND LOMILOMI WITH KAHUNA HO'OLA & KUMU HULA, KAWAIKAPUOKALANI HEWETT, AUNTIE MARY FRAGAS AND AUNTIE NERITA MACHADO (AUNTIE MARGARET MACHADO’S DAUGHTER).

KAWAIKAPUOKALANI WILL COVER: UNDERSTANDING THE ORIGIN AND FOUNDATION OF HO'OPONOPONO(HAWAIIAN-STYLE CONFLICT RESOLUTION), GATHERING, PREPARING AND PRESCRIBING LA'AU LAPA'AU(HAWAIIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS), LEARNING HEALING PRAYERS, CHANTING AND DANCE

AUNTIE NERITA WILL BE COVERING THE SPIRITUAL ASPECT OF HAWAIIAN HEALING AND LOMILOMI WITH EMPHASIS IN HO'OPONOPONO, PULE AND LOVING TOUCH. SHE WILL ALSO SHARE HOW THE LOVING HAND WITH PRAYER BRINGS HEALING TO BOTH THE THERAPIST AND THE CLIENT.

AUNTIE MARY WILL BE PRESENTING HER EXTRAORDINARY STYLE OF LOMILOMI AND INTUITIVE HEALING.

ACCOMMODATIONS AND CLASSES WILL BE HELD AT: KAHALELEHUA, MOUNTAIN VIEW, HI 96771-0442 Contact Suzi Ko at holistichonu@sbcglobal.net - 50 units NCBTMB.

Missionaries Enjoyed Lomi-lomi

2008-05-25T20:50:00.005-10:00

A persistent myth is that the missionaries condemned lomilomi or made it illegal. The missionaries enjoyed lomi. Hiram Bingham was a zealot in every sense of the word. He's the one the book and movie, Hawaii, are based on. In his book he writes that he received lomi and appreciated it for relief of sore muscles.

As discussed in my book, Na Mo'olelo Lomilomi, lomi was never made illegal. It was, however, regulated along with massage beginning in 1947.

Do therapists need protection from negative energy?

2008-04-18T21:14:00.003-10:00

I just found a hilarious interview of Auntie Margaret commenting on Hew Len.

A few weeks ago, a friend called and asked if I had ever read anything about how lomilomi practitioners protected themselves from picking up negative energy from a client. At the time, all I remembered was Auntie Margaret Machado's insistence that we protect our client from our own negative energy. While doing lomilomi it is very important to maintain healing thoughts.

Yesterday I was in my favorite place - the Bishop Museum Archives - and in the course of looking for information on ho'oponopono, I found an oral history with Auntie Margaret from 1997.

Question: Do you feel that you can pick up any kind of negative energy from people at all?

Auntie Margaret: No. Not at all! How can I pick it up! You can't pick it up.

Q: I heard Stan Hew Len. He was talking about that whole process, ... with Morrnah Simmeona.

Auntie Margaret: Oh, well, Morrnah Simmeona was taking the test [to become a licensed massage therapist] the same time I was taking for my teaching ... I don't know.

Q: I heard Stanley say ... that anyone who does massage kind of work, all they're doing is picking up all the negative energy from people.

Auntie Margaret: Oh please.

Q: And he said you should never go in the ocean or in the swimming pool, because of all the negative energy.

Auntie Margaret: No. No such thing."

I love that part - Oh please!

Lomi Classes Coming Up

2008-02-29T13:44:00.002-10:00

Two beautiful spirits are offering lomi lomi classes that I highly recommend.

Kauhi Ho'opii, originally from O'ahu and now teaching massage in Utah, was a big hit at the last 'aha or conference of the Hawaiian Lomilomi Association. One of his main points was how we can use body weight to make giving lomi easier on us. Everyone talks about this, but Kauhi's demonstration took the concept to a whole new level. He will be teaching on April 23 and 24 at Amy Greenwell's garden south of Kona. Contact him at kauhi@infowest.com.

Beloved kumu Brenda Mohalapua Ignacio is presenting two lomi intensives in a beautiful house on O'ahu. One is April 20-26 and the other is September 14-20. A professional hula dancer, Brenda includes hula in her workshops and emphasizes the importance of intention and using the hands in loving touch. She can be reached at bignacio808@aol.com.

This reminds me of all the other notices I have received about training that I haven't put up. I apologize to the other kumu. I am this close to putting up another web site where we can put everyone's classes. I'm just trying to get the logistics together. Let me know if this is an idea you would like to see.

Mahalo,
Makana

another meaning for lomilomi

2008-02-14T22:39:00.003-10:00

I was browsing one of my favorite books, "A Treasury of Hawaiian Words in 101 Categories" by Col Winfield Kent, former President of Kamehameha Schools. After giving the usual definition of lomilomi, he gives this one:

"to act upon, as the spirit of God acts upon the heart."

Isn't that marvelous? And so true of authentic lomilomi.

The Question of Pay for Lomilomi

2008-02-10T21:29:00.000-10:00

When I did my lomilomi internship at a native-owned spa, I was shocked when one of my Hawaiian co-workers told me she didn't get paid. She was there 6 days a week, 8 hours a day, and did not receive any pay. She did accept tips or ho'okupu from the clients, and they often brought her gifts, but nothing from the store. When I asked her why, she said, "Lomilomi is a gift from God. If I were to charge for it, He would take it away from me."

I was so inspired and touched by what she said that I vowed not to charge when I went into practice. I do have to admit, though, that I cheated a little bit because when people asked me what I charged I would say, "The spa where I work charges $60, but I do it by donation." Giving that dollar figure first is a sales technique called bracketing -- it gets the person thinking in the area you'd like them to give. And it more or less worked. Everyone paid. But I have to admit that it felt like a job. Over the years I let go of client after client, until I had only one. He was an old man, and he was dying.

One day he told me that he could no longer see me because he could not afford to pay me what he had been paying. Obviously, he had forgotten it was a donation. I told him, "I will still come and see you every week, and I'm glad you aren't going to pay me anymore." It stopped feeling like a job and became a wonderful time together. I was with him through the end -- the only person who came to see him. He gave me so much in that last year when he stopped paying.

I completely understand people who do charge for lomilomi and personally do not have a problem with it. I was just fortunate that at that time I was able to do lomilomi without charge. I no longer give lomilomi outside of the family, instead seeking to make a living by writing and speaking about Hawaiian healing traditions. I hope and trust that my work is pono.

Another view on client calls

2008-02-06T22:35:00.000-10:00

The day after I posted the blog below, I went to a program led by two haumana of Papa Henry Auwae. They said when people called to see Papa, there was only one question they would ask, "Do you believe in God?" because if the person said no, he couldn't help them.

These haumana still practice Papa's way. They do not accept money, nor will they volunteer their services. They will only help if asked. They are on call 24/7. They never get a vacation. That is their kuleana.

How precious that they and many others are perpetuating the traditions. And how wonderful those who are melding lomilomi with Western business practices. Everyone is helping others in their own way.

The kumu never called back?

2008-01-30T20:42:00.000-10:00

A friend recently told me that he had referred a client to one of the kumu in the Hawaiian Massage Lomilomi book, and the kumu had not returned the phone call. How rude! A few minutes later, a different kumu called me. I asked, "Did you hear from the woman I referred to you?" The kumu said, "Yes! She called and wanted 4 sessions for her and her friends later the same day. I called around for 40 minutes to find 2 extra practitioners available on short notice. Then the lady called back and canceled because there was a television program she wanted to watch instead."

I encourage all kumu to set a tone with the clients from the very beginning. Establish that you are a master, not easily available. This is not an act - it is true. We sometimes so want to please people, to help them, that we drop everything. But they need to know from the first moment they call us they need to slow down, be open and stay flexible.

Your phone message machine is a good place to start. Leave a warm message that thanks them for calling, but that also says something along these lines:

Aloha! Mahalo, thank you, for calling. I love to work with new clients, and I have a full schedule of classes and appointments. Please leave a message with the dates and times you would like an appointment. We see clients [dates and times]. You will need 2 hours for your time here, so you can relax, prepare, receive a one hour treatment, relax and get ready to leave. The more open you are with dates and times, the more likely you will get an appointment. If we do not have an opening we will not call you back. Usually we return calls within 24 hours. Mahalo!

Then when you make an appointment with someone, I would suggest you get their credit card number and inform them you will charge if they cancel with less than 72 hours notice. Yes, I'm sure that's not a traditional Hawaiian practice, but we're not talking about traditional Hawaiians who are seeking your services. These are people who unfortunately are used to dealing with businesses and do not consider the human impact their behavior has. I like to say to kumu who feel uncomfortable charging for their services that you are not charging for what you do. You are charging for your time and travel.

If you have other thoughts on this I would love to hear them.

Makana

More Rules to Live By

2007-11-12T15:43:00.000-10:00

At the Hawaiian Lomilomi Association conference this past October, Kauhi Ho'opi'i referred to my prior post giving Aunty Mona Kahele's "Rules to Live By." Kauhi had his own set of rules, which I love, and he gave me permission to reprint them here:

1. Put your love and trust in God
2. Respect others
3. Mastery of self
4. Find "Joy" in service
5. There is no room for "EGO"
6. Learn to forgive yourself and others
7. Always be teachable

I love all of these, but the last one especially. Though Kauhi was a featured speaker at the event, he always deferred to the kupuna, paid attention during the presentations and continued to learn. How many people do we see take a weekend lomi class and then begin teaching others, never to take a class again? Kupuna Kaneakua, who is in his 70s, recently told me about a class he just took. These are the best teachers - the ones who know they will never be masters, because there is always more to learn.

That's one of the reasons I wrote my books. The wisdom of the kupuna in those books can be read again and again, and we will always learn something new. www.LomilomiBook.com

Mahalo for Book Launch

2007-11-12T10:54:00.000-10:00

Mahalo to all the folks who participated in the book launch Nov. 9. About 250 people came out! Mahalo to LiAnn Uyeda who helped make it special by bringing kumu hula Blaine Kia and his halau, musician Sean Tiwanak and his group, and Aunty Mahealani Kuamo'o speaking on ho'oponopono ke ala. Mahalo to Kekuni Blaisdell, M.D., who created a song for John Kalani Zak and me right on the spot! Mahalo to our speakers Alapa'i Kahu'ena and Ramsay Taum. Mahalo to Maile Meyer and the folks at Native Books for sponsoring it, and Lulani Arquette and Dorien Smith McClellan of Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association for their support. Mahalo nui loa to Kalama and his crew of practitioners who gave away lomilomi all evening long! What a wonderful special surprise to have them there!

Mahalo to all our honorees who were there, Aunty Mary Fragas, Papa K, and Koni (all from the big island), Kupuna Kaneakua, Donald and Yvonne Kaiahua, Ho'okahi Ho'oulu, Alva Andrews, Brenda Mohalapua Ignacio, Eri Virden, Aoi Wright, Judson McCandless, Jeana Naluai (who came from Maui), and our keiki haumana Hekili Kaiahua, Kamehanaokala Ruiz and Maika'i Medeiros.

Mahalo to Pali Jae Lee who signed books and met her fans.

Mahalo to our models who came, cover girl Liz Lalo'ulu, Mary Church, Tracey Russell, Sandy Mew-McRoberts, Valerie Au, David Virden, and Shelle Silva. A special mahalo to my "model husband" Mark Chai for not only being a model but also making the beautiful Mahalo cards we gave to each kumu, and for hauling books, books and more books.

Mahalo to our 'ohana for making food, bringing lei and exuding aloha: kupuna Elizabeth Pa Chai, and Lehua, Marianne, Michael, Lori, Norman and Casey Chai.

Mahalo to everyone who came!

Auntie Margaret Honored

2007-08-29T13:44:00.000-10:00

On August 27, Auntie Margaret Machado was honored by the Hawai'i Tourism Authority with a lifetime achievement award. Unable to attend due to her health, she was represented at the ceremony on O'ahu by her daughters Nerita and Lana. The award is a beautiful feather lei encased in a koa wood shadow box.

We are honored that Auntie Margaret and Nerita are two of the more than 30 kumu or teachers featured in our new book, Hawaiian Massage Lomilomi: Sacred Touch of Aloha.

Beyond a Lomilomi How-To, This Book is a Why-To

2007-07-12T22:20:00.000-10:00

At first glance, this book appears to be simply 120 gorgeous photographs of native healers giving Hawaiian massage to beautiful men and women in spectacular settings on the beach, in the rain forest and in their hale ola (house of healing). With 70 inspirational quotes from historic and contemporary kahuna (masters) and kupuna (elders), it is not a traditional how-to book.

But on reflection, this book is far more advanced than a step-by-step protocol. Study the photos of practitioners in action to understand the basics of the physical movements. But you will see more than that. You will see the spirit of this ancient practice. From the moment you touch the sumptuous paper, you step into the sacred world of Hawaiian healing. Each stunning picture and wisdom quote evokes a feeling in your heart. As you take in each page, you feel that lomilomi is less about what the therapists do and more about why they do it. As Allen Alapa‘i, one of the featured kumu or teachers says, “Life is a feeling, not a thinking.”

This is a book to be savored again and again. Spend a few moments each morning meditating on a picture and quote. As you move through the sections on love of the land, prayer, breath and loving touch you gain a new perspective and bring a new spirit to your life. You learn the Hawaiian way to “gather the vibration of the plentiful.” You bring the sacred touch of aloha into your life.

To begin your journey, order the book now.

Mahalo,

Makana

The diversity of lomilomi

2007-06-08T00:32:00.000-10:00

Our new book, Hawaiian Massage Lomilomi: sacred touch of aloha, will be out in October but already has gathered comments. One man looked at the list of kumu in the book and said, "Oh, you have Papa Henry Auwae! Your book must be pretty good." Then he kept reading down the list and pointed to another name, "You have this guy in your book??? I don't respect him at all." I said, "We have 36 practitioners in the book. I guarantee no one is going to agree with everyone in here, but you will agree with at least one."

One kupuna told me that we don't have all of the masters in the book. I said, "I hope not! I hope there are more masters than will fit in one book. I intend to create many more books as I meet more kupuna."

This book showcases the diversity of lomilomi. And there is much more diversity that I have yet to see. For my next projects, I am working one-on-one with kumu to bring forth their own books in their own words. Hopefully, my researches into authentic traditional lomilomi will last my life time. I hope to leave behind a library of books on lomilomi and Hawaiian healing!

Romi or Lomi?

2007-04-02T10:07:00.000-10:00

I found a web site recently for people who teach Romi rather than Lomi. They say, "Romi is the ancient word for Lomi." Romi is actually the Tahitian word for Lomi. Probably the word in Tahitian and Hawaiian originally was the same, with a sound somewhere between an R and an L. The missionaries who went to Tahiti heard "R" and those who came to Hawai'i heard "L." Whether you teach Romi or Lomi, it's all good - just get your history right!

More on the Secret Languages of Hawaiians

2007-03-04T21:21:00.000-10:00

In Mona Kahele's book, Clouds of Memories, she writes about a code that was used by one chief to another. What was said:

There's the breadfruit
Landing at the water's edge of Two Cliffs
About four or five counts
Pick all of them and steam them.

Actual meaning of the code:

There are the men
Landing at the edge of the shore between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa
About 160 to 200 men
Attack and kill all of them.

Aunty Mona goes on to say there is more to the code than this translation; it is also a riddle and a parable.

How wonderful the ways of the Hawaiians of old! We will never understand their secrets simply by translating root words from Hawaiian to English.

Real Hawaiian Rules for Living

2007-02-26T08:43:00.000-10:00

A web page purporting to give Hawaiian rules for living had some wonderful sentiments such as "no rain - no rainbows." Maybe the people of old said such things, but a book from kupuna Mona Kahele, Clouds of Memories, had the list of rules she learned from her kupuna in the 1930s and 40s:

1. Remember God and prayers.
2. Respect your elders and kupuna.
3. Always listen and watch how things are done.
4. Always speak your language, never mind the haole.
5. When kupuna speak, you shut up, no questions asked.
6. At all times you must learn your culture whether you like it or not.
7. Watch and learn by observing.
8. Make sure you finish what you start.
9. Work is the main thing in life.

I have heard these rules from other Native Hawaiian elders and believe they are authentic.

What is Hawaiian?

2006-11-06T15:17:00.000-10:00

My passion in life is publishing accurate information about Native Hawaiian culture. But as a kupuna recently pointed out to me, we have to be clear about which Native Hawaiian culture we are speaking of. She divides it into the Hawaiian period (settlement to about 1250 CE), Tahitian (Pa’ao to Kamehameha), the Monarchy (1819 to 1893) and the American era (1893 to now). Most of what we know from Malo, Kamakau, Pukui, and other Hawaiian historians about “old Hawaii” is from the Tahitian period. For example, ali’i chiefs came to power only after Pa’ao. (If you do not know about Pa’ao, here is a place to start http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pa'ao)

I am sorry to say that I have not been as precise as necessary in my writing. I can only promise to be better in the future!

In a related development, a recent blog from a self-described “Huna lady” said, “There are no Native Hawaiians.” I wrote and asked her why she said that and she said because they came from somewhere else. Well, according to DNA research we are all originally African. But that doesn’t mean we should ignore all of the beautiful ways we have evolved and the diverse cultures of the world. So I will continue to write about the cultures that are uniquely Hawaiian.

Kake – The Secrets of the Kahuna

2006-10-22T21:54:00.000-10:00

Like Huna people, I love to break Hawaiian words into root words to try to understand their deeper meanings. This is an authentic way to begin to understand the richness and complexity of the Hawaiian language.

Huna people say that the kahuna hid their secrets in their words. But if the kahuna had secrets, do you think they would “hide” them in such a way that they could be understood by every Native Hawaiian, or any haole with a Hawaiian dictionary? I don’t think so!

The kahuna and chiefs did have a secret way of speaking, but it was not to be found in root words. They referred to it as kake (with a macron over the e). The best definition of kake comes from a wonderful resource book, “Treasury of Hawaiian Words in One Hundred and One Categories,” compiled by Harold Winfield Kent, former President of Kamehameha Schools.

Kent defines kake as, “Artificial language made by transposing syllables. It was used in speaking, writing, and in chants. The purpose of the garbled communication was to hide the meaning from any but the initiates.”

Missionary Lorrin Andrews in his 1865 Dictionary writes, “it is made by transposing the letters of words and by giving words new meanings; it is used mostly, if not always, for vile, lascivious purposes.”

Andrews was fairly straightforward when it came to defining words relating to sorcery, healing, and sexuality, so I don’t know what he might mean by vile and lascivious.

I’ve spoken with several Hawaiians who have heard of kake, but who told me no more than the above. My research continues. If you know of any resources or wish to shed light on this subject, I would love to hear from you.

by Makana Risser Chai
editor, Bishop Museum book on Hawaiian healing massage
www.MakanaChai.com
copyright 2006 all rights reserved by Makana Chai