anguage; knowledge was primarily transmitted
verbally. Important information was usually taught in chants. Mistakes in
chanting were believed to insult the gods or ancestors, the chiefs or the
gods, and a forgetful chanter could be severely punished. This encouraged
Unlike the complexity and chaos of our modern Western societies,
life in a Hawaiian ohana was simple and stable, based on common values
of pono (righteousness) and na (harmony). Many of the old Hawaiian
kapu customs and rituals would be inappropriate for Westerners.
For example, it was a crime for a woman to eat most species of
banana and it was generally believed that an offender would die.
Hawaiian spirituality was created and preserved by people living in small
communities, and huna from different parts of Hawaii is different.
The heart of the old teachings, aloha (literally - we breathe together)
offers a basis for creating 'ohana suitable for our own world. As we translated Hawaiian
healing magic into Western intellectual tradition - Soulwork systemic solutions
Unlike the complex mystical systems developed in ancient cultures
such as Egypt, China and India,
Huna is simple to understand and use.
However, even in modern Hawaii there remains much secrecy.
Few native kahuna will teach non-Hawaiians and few native
Hawaiians will admit to knowing much about this ancient wisdom.
As a native Hawaiian friend said, “The haole (white immigrants) stole our
land and they stole our children; now they want to steal our soul!”
Pre-Christian rituals survive on other Polynesian islands.
Old traditions of New Zealand, Tahiti or Easter Island are different, although
the names of many gods and rituals are easily recognizable to Hawaiians.
Hawaiian spirituality includes the Order of Ku, concerned with the power
of emotions and wild places. The Order of Lono was concerned
with the power of the intellect, such as agriculture and house
building, and the Order of Kane
concerned spiritual and community development.
Could this be a step on your path? There are three
keys: the purity of your integrity, the clarity of your intent and the
application of your knowledge. To make space for joyful learning,
we can share Hawaiian traditions. Each of us has qualities that
may assist other people in their lives - and if “your qualities
are our qualities” and “our qualities are your qualities”,
then we can recreate 'ohana. The heart of Huna Kalani is to live
in a stable, peaceful community, with love and joy, in balance with nature.
|Maki'iki'i, e Maki'i-lohelohe
Aia i 'ele e ka mauna
Oia i 'ele e ka moana
Ma kai 'ouli ma kai akea
Ki’eki’e ka hoku, ha'aha'a ka malama
E ka 'ohiki, e ka 'ohiki pae
Darkness is over the mountain
Darkness is over the ocean
At sea is an omen, in the wide sea
The stars are high, the moon is low
Let that which is unknown be known!
Mahalo - amama,
Martyn Kahekili Carruthers
Hawaiian Spirituality .
Healing and Ohana .
Will you join us under the trees
by Kealakekua Bay? Will you come with us into the craters in Volcano
Park? Or will you help us come to you? We bring these teachings
to the world under their old name of Huna Kalani, and under our
new name of
Consider joining us in Hawaii. Our
classrooms are beaches, forests and volcanoes. We can help you make
Hawaii a journey of a lifetime. Stay in South Kona and come with us to
the most beautiful, most sacred (and most haunted) places on Big Island.
. Hawaii Big Island
Huna was a word used by native Hawaiians to describe lost or
hidden things. Max Freedom Long probably chose this word due to confusion
with the word kahuna, (kahu na - keeper of balance) which was
used to indicate an expert or a sorcerer. Native Hawaiian life was more
concerned with pono (righteousness), aloha (love) and mana
Our Huna Kalani provides an experiential introduction to old
Hawaiian shamanism. You can experience the beauty and power of our research
in a series of workshops that can expand your perception of reality.
Hawaiian magic refers to a technology of consciousness that few understand. Within
this old healing magic are some of the roots of