Posted by Lani on March 07, 1999 at 22:49:39:
In Reply to: This website is great!!! posted by Kilihune on March 04, 1999 at 04:34:57:
: I am a student at the UH. We got this website through a lady who found it, and I am finding so much stuff I have never ever heard of before.In fact, several of my classmates (we are Olelo Hawaii majors) are getting into this site, to see if any of the data presented here can be factually authenticated (there are a lot of skeptics, and some downright offended by this site). The beauty of the Hawaiian language as a language of commerce and societical standing was premiere in the 19th century. There were over 150 newspapers from the 1830s to 1949. The first school west of the Rockies was Lahainaluna. In fact, had those select few (yet immensely powerful) plantation owners had not have pushed the ban against the language in 1896, it would probably be the premier Pacific Islander language today. Make no mistake, these were no bumpkin islanders. Their literacy rates were the among the highest in their era throughout the world. They had such sophisticated machinery such as printing presses before most Scandanavian and Eastern European nations. Therefore, there is alot of data from that time, ranging from all topics including the spiritual. I have no doubt that if indeed what has been presented here did have any validity, there will be some record of it. (I am keeping an open mind).
: While I think the proactivity of these visitors are terrific ( I love positive people), I admit to being wary of some of the facts touted here. But, that will all pan out in the end, I am sure. I have asked my kumu hula to look at this site and see it for herself (she is a treasure trove of Hawaiiana).
: May I please make one correction: the word Hawai'i has an 'okina, not an apostophe. Its a "Hawaiian" word. And the 'okina is a letter unique only to "Hawaiian" words.
: The word "Hawai'ian" is NOT a "Hawaiian" word--it is the English variation of Hawai'i. If you choose to use the word "Hawaiian", please do so without an 'okina.
You are using the apostrophe to represent the `okina here. This would not be proper. The representation is called the Hamzah or something like that. It is NOT "'", but "`". There are so many variations in usage, eh? It is like what my Hawaiian teacher once told me, do not contradict you kapuna on these matters, they know something too. But I appreciate your comments. Still you must be aware of the contraversy in this matter. In my own life I have been accosted by natives that insist I use the okina when spelling Hawaii. I've been accosted by natives because I have used the apostrophe, and I've been accosted by others, such as yourself for using anything at all! It seems a lot liker calling people "blacks", but are then accosted and demanded that they call themselves: negros, then others will demand that you call them colored folks. In the main, thefore, I tend to like to call people by their name, eh?
: Also, for everyone's information: the -na at the end of a Hawaiian word is somewhat of a pluralizer, linguistically-speaking.
: several 'oha='ohana
: the sun hiki(s) at the hikina
: we pi'i at the pi'ina
: the -na is endless in Hawaiian mana'o.
: So, Kahuna are many Kahu, which, to use a broad term, are administrators of such.
: As a Hawaiian, I read Kahuna Lani as a bunch of Kahu who belong/named Lani.
This CAN be correct for the ancient Hawaiian language. And I am impressed with your seeing the connectiion. However, we are not using Hawaiian here, but the Hunaian Liturgical language, which is the form of Hawaiian used by Lorrin Adrews in his 1865 dictionary.
In speaking modern Hawaiian, as presented by the kahuna, Mary Pukui, it is better glossed as "Minister, Priest". Although you are quite correct, a bunch or guardians would be haku-na.
It seems to me that many pilikia come from not realizing that "Huna" (or in the hawai`ian language it would be: halau ohuna). As such it is whatever it is, and is related to the tribal paganism of ancient Hawaii, but is also quite dirrerent from it.
When this is understood, then there should be no more enmity between us, than say, there is between the Hawaiians and the Maori. Related but each their own thing as well.
The term "Kahuna" is used in the Huna religion in both English, and our liturgical language. It seems to mean "Minister" to Pukui, and probably IS descended from "a bunch of Keepers".
(SHRUG)
Aloha,
Ho`anoIwahinenuiho`aLani