Honi (pronounced HO – nee) is the traditional Hawaiian greeting.
The english translation is βto kissβ, but actually, the original greeting was touching forehead to forehead, nose to nose and exchanging breath.
So hereβs the questionβ¦
“How do I know when it’s okay to honi someone like a client or patient?β
Growing up, my dad would always say “oh, kiss your auntie, kiss your uncle” and we would kiss one time on the cheek. And hug. It felt a little awkward at times because I wasnβt asked to kiss and hug every grown up. In certain circles, we would just say hello, shake hands or give a βhi 5β.
Itβs so important to understand the context before you can offer the appropriate greeting.
In other places throughout the world, there are similar greetings. The Maori people, indigenous to New Zealand, greet with hongi. When you hongi, you touch forehead to forehead, nose to nose and exchange breath.
In the Eskimo tradition, the Inuit people, rub noses. This practice would likely be seen with an elder and child, someone that is family. The energy of this greeting is very intimate and familial.
The Hawaiian people exchange honi this way as well. It’s how you would greet someone honored, loved, and esteemed. It is a sign of respect to receive a honi.
When we touch forehead to forehead, we touch alo to alo, bone to bone, with our makaloa, third eye, nose to nose. The third eye is the potent, intuitive center of the body. By touching forehead to forehead, we can read someone else’s intention.
Hawaiians believe that our ancestral DNA is contained within the bones. When we connect bone to bone, we’re connecting the lineage of both parties. In other words, it’s a way of identifying the person in front of you and connecting with them on that very deep level.
Finally, we exchange breath. The ha, divine breath, is held within each of us. When we exchange divine breath through the nose, it is the part of us that comes directly from Spirit. The breath of God.
When the western contact happened and we were greeted with a handshake instead of honi, it was very unusual to the Hawaiian. The gesture had no breath.
I believe that is one of the ideas behind the word, Haβole.Β
Another possible explanation is when the Hawaiian saw pale skin they saw a similarity to when someone was not well. A person without life force. The Hawaiians referred to these foreigners asΒ Haβole, which means no breath.
It was without breath as we shook hands with the western sailors, Captain Cook and his men. And somehow that word has continued to stick overtime, but I believe it had to do with this greeting as well.
Honi is a greeting that was traditional here in Hawaii. Iβve noticed that honi is one of our ancient practices that weβre seeing more and more nowadays. Still, some Hawaiians are hesitant when they go to greet someone as to whether the person is open to greeting them in this very intimate, familiar way.
Remember, there was a time in our history where many Hawaiian cultural practices were suppressed. Hawaiian elders have had to sit on a timeline with many changes.
From the migrations of the Pacific to the Missionary period, to the time when Hawaii became a U.S. territory, many Hawaiians were not able to practice our traditions. In fact, some were not proud of our traditions as a people trying to assimilate into American culture.
Hawaiians have now begun to really embrace our Hawaiian-ness our traditions, and cultural practices.
In the past, Iβve found myself holding back. I will not typically go towards someone unless I know them well like a student and I’m the one who is offering that greeting. Hawaiian elders deserve my respect, so I will wait until they approach me and then I receive it.
Honi is an honor, a gesture of respect and acknowledgement in the life the other person carries. If you are in a situation where you aren’t sure what to do, hang back, see what comes and be ready for anything.
The original question had to do with whether to honi patients,Β clients, or those unfamiliar with the practice. If someone doesn’t know the deeper meaning of the gesture, it may be an opportunity to educate someone in a very beautiful way of acknowledging the God within someone else. Be mindful of the other personβs comfort level.
Honi is a mana exchange and it has to do with our essence.
So, the next time you greet someone, whether you’re offering a honi, a kiss, or a hug, just do it with aloha. Greet one another from your heart and acknowledge the spirit within the other person. Their divinity. The breath of God.
When you have you held back when greeting someone new? How do you acknowledge the divine in another person?
I love reading your comments!
With aloha,
Β
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11 thoughts on “Honi the Traditional Hawaiian Greeting”
Mahalo Kumu Iwalani, I was googling the Hawaiian word for sharing breath and your wisdom came up. What a sweet gift this morning. HaΚ»i wau iΔ Κ»oe and I miss this practice.
Marcia
Aloha Marcia!
Mahalo for taking the time to your story! Iβm so happy to see you here.
Iβm so honoured and delighted to share these Hawaiian teachings to all of you!
Warm Aloha πππ
Mahola for the education, I appreciate it
Aloha Jason,
Mahalo for following this blog post entry.
Sending Aloha wherever you are π
Warm Alohaπππ
Mahalo nui kΔia mo’olelo. He mea nui ka mo’omeheu ‘o Hawai’i.
Aloha Jasmine! Nui koΚ»u hauΚ»oli e kaΚ»ana aku i ka nui a koΚ»ikoΚ»i o ka moΚ»omeheu hawaiian i ko mΔkou honua i kΔia lΔ! Mahalo for being in here! π
I am Hawaiian but grew up on the mainlalnd. Someday I want to return to my islands and learn more of what I missed. I have always loved to lean into people especially those I grew close to. Recently I find myself kissing them on the cheek if they are moving away. I am a grade school teacher of military families. Have I a seed implanted in me?
I believed that exchange and offering greetings with a pure heart and ALOHA πΊ – that’s the cultivating and true vision of seed that’s implanted on you Leonora π What makes it even better is that acknowledging the spirit within the other person and minding Their divinity always! Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us! ππβ¨
I am from New Zealand but as a white Eiropean find the power of the traditional Pacific Island greeting, the Honi or Hongi incredibly powerful and symbolic. Thankfully in New Zealand we are making significant steps towards officially recognising Maori culture again after the negative times of British colonisation so that the Hongi is being used a lot more again in formal greeting ceremonies by government officials.I love it! It is a cultural and spiritual gem which should be honoured and preserved.
Thanks for following up on this post Mark! π I always believe the importance of Cultural Preservation. π And of course lifting our highest Mana to be the torchbearer of our Authenticity! π Doing this by Aloha from the bottom of our hearts and acknowledging the spirit within of the people around us. ππβ¨πΊ
Thank you very much by this interesting information. I am actually a Michigander, but believe in hugging as a positive exchange, and was intrigued by the practice of Honi. I hope that adding Honi to my interaction with my fellow man will be taking as a honor to that thinking, and not some fad based meandering. Our world needs more kind words, gentle touches, hugs, and of course Honi. Peace!