“There is something important for us to understand,” begins kahuna Hale Kealohalani Makua, as transcribed by anthropologist Hank Wesselman. “The word mana is not some impersonal supernatural force that is spread out across the universe…
Each year, when the cluster of stars Makali’i appears in the night sky, Makahiki season begins. It is a time for celebrating abundance, gratitude and peace, in honor of Lono, god of rain, thunder and harvest.
Hawaiians’ deep connection to the ‘aina – the land – has roots in the very beginning of ancient Hawaiian culture. Hawaiians believe that humans are part of the natural world – not separate from it – and the Hawaiian creation story of Hāloa reminds us to care for the ‘aina the way that she cares for us.
Can you imagine a world that replaced violence with words?
Since April, protectors of Mauna Kea have embodied Kapu Aloha, an ancient practice inspired by our kupuna, using compassion and Aloha with great intention as a response to the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).
To bring ancient wisdom into modern times is a profound exercise in faith.
Faith in the natural world, faith in the source, faith in love and in one’s self– these all come into play as we carry our ancestors’ teachings into the present.
