Posted by Lani on December 06, 1999 at 20:46:19:
In Reply to: Kahuna posted by Richard Grant on November 29, 1999 at 05:35:33:
Aloha,
The word "Kahuna" means Priest, Minister, Pastor, etc. in the Huna religion as created by Kahuna Max Freedom Long.
It is a contraction of "kahu" and "huna". A kahu is a servant or keeper. And huna means dust or dustlike particles or secret or secrets. Hence a Kahu+huna, Kahuna is a "Keeper of Secrets".
The term "Big" means something very different in Hawaiian. The word is "nui" and while it CAN be translated as "big", its actual meaning is more like "Great".
The "Kahuna Nui" were the tops in the priestly caste of anceint Hawaii.
It was brought back, I suppose, in the "Gidget goes Hawaiian" movie.
Aloha,
Lani