Women, Hawaiian Healing and the Spirit of Aloha

by  Pi`ilani

The Ancient Hawaiians lived in an island nation surrounded by a vast ocean. They had an intuitive understanding that life was like the ocean: constantly changing, it is powerful, overwhelming, and treacherous. They knew that one cannot live in the ocean for long; you can swim in it, surf in it, but after a while you will tire. In order to survive one must have a good canoe. Comparing life to the ocean, it was just too big, constantly changing and too unpredictable to survive. They needed something to keep them afloat even through the storms. The Ancient Hawaiians developed inner strength and an intuitive connection to the elements. They developed a deep understanding of spiritual principles in order to stay riding on the high seas of life.

Hawaiians called their spiritual leaders kahunas. Women were equally if not more likely to rise to the highest honored ranks of leadership. Hawaiian names are both male and female. There was no distinction between what women and men did. Every occupation and action was valued equally. Age was valued and respected—even treasured; they kept their love alive for na kapuna—the grandparents, the ancestors. Pre-invasion Hawaii, the time of Kane, was considered to be one of the most balanced societies on Earth.

The key to Hawaiian spirituality—the Spirit of Aloha—is woven into their language, in the hula hula, in the chants and in their healing practices. The Hawaiian language consists of 12 letters, five vowels and seven consonants. The very nature of the language obligates the speaker to breathe in and out with a torrent of vowels in every phrase. The word kahuna contains several words giving its meaning: ka means light, kahu means honored servant and na means to care for. Aloha, the word for hello, goodbye and love means: alo the joyful sharing of ha breath. Ohana, the word for family, means people who breathe together.

Ha, the breath, is an integral part of what it means to be Hawaiian. Spirit comes in on the breath. They would not think to pray without breathing life into their prayers first. The missions were called haoles; they understood the word to mean “foreigner”, but the translation is “people without breath”. The missionaries misunderstood the Hawaiians so completely that they banned their language, their prayers, their healing methods and their entire culture. The last of the laws was finally lifted in 1987.

The Hawaiians had chants/prayers that called to the light and asked for enlightenment. They had healing practices that aligned the ku, lono and kane (unconscious mind, conscious mind and higher mind). Their aim was to reunite what is separate. When we unite our mind—our three selves into one-mind—we are in alignment with our soul. The Christ was in alignment with his soul—they call that Christ consciousness. The ancient pre-invasion culture of this beautiful island nation was a center of peace and balance and equality in the world. Their healing practices and spirituality were hidden from sight waiting for a time to come to share them without being regarded as sorcery. It is time now for the Ancient Hawaiian secrets to be revealed for all to benefit.

Pi`ilani is sharing an afternoon of Hawaiian Healing and the Spirit of Aloha, 2 to 4pm, June 5, at Yoga Source, 3510 S. University Dr., Davie. Register at MyYogaSource.com.

Pi`ilani left her profession as an architectural designer to journey inward. She studied in Hawaii with master kumu teachers of Huna Kane, Lomilomi and Ka Hana Pono. She is an ordained Bachelor of Divinity; Certified Master Hypnotist through NGH trained in regression, 5Path, EFT, Theta Healing; and a kundalini yoga instructor. All of these modalities help us align to our true self and assist in clearing whatever is in the way of love. For more information call Pi`ilani at 954-643-0177. 

Posted in: Local
Return to Previous Page