Posted by Marie on June 18, 2001 at 20:57:49:
In Reply to: Re: Huna posted by Aloha News Germany on June 18, 2001 at 06:50:36:
Aloha mai - Dietrich!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. What I know is taught to me by my `ohana (family) - particularily from na kupuna (the elders). Kupuna are the best source of wisdom and knowledge and have more information than any book could ever hold. Perhaps you would be interested in a first account story by a kupuna. I recommend Nana Veary's book, "Change We Must." Auntie Nana was raised in the traditional Hawaiian way - something we didn't experience. Let me just say that we young ones in Hawai`i are just starting to learn about our ancestor's way. Many of the kumu have passed on without passing on their wisdom and knowledge. Of course, there is a reason for this.
Let me just say that there are no secrets with regards to wisdom and sacred ways. What we want to know, we will know. Only need to ask! I would love to share with you the stories that my kupuna have shared with me. I have very few white people in my family, but I do know many white people here in Hawai`i who have been adopted (Hana`i) by Hawaiian families. Family and genealogy are most important. It is through families that wisdom and knowledge is passed on. A white person who is adopted (hana`i) by Hawaiian families are Hawaiians too. Family knowledge and wisdom is the natural inhertance of those within the family.
Let me just share with you one story about the kuhuna laau lapaau (medical practitioner). A kahuna laau lapaau will consult directly with na aumakua (ancestors) on what kind of plants to use for particular physical problems. So knowledge and wisdom is not only passed on by the kumu, but by the ancestors. There is no secret, our ancestors will give us answers we seek, as will na akua (Gods/Godesses). Our sources are our kupuna, aumakua and the akuas.
We all know Lono by another name - Jesus Christ. Hawaiians realized Capt. Cook was human when he bleed. Gods do not bleed! There is a story about a Christian missionary who was preaching to a group of Hawaiian ladies. After the missionary left, a little child asked the kupuna why she was laughing. The kupuna said that she found it funny how the missionary did not know that the Hawaiians already knew what he was preaching about. Hawaiians knew Lono, the same akua that the Christian missionaries were so passionately talking about.
The big picture is - Let's say that all people and all living beings (plants, rocks etc) in this world trace their genealogies. We will find out that everybody is related to each other. How different the world will be if we start treating each other like family. All knowledge and wisdom is ours if we only realize that we are all brothers and sisters. What our Hawaiian kupuna are doing (hiding the wisdom and knowledge) is the result of disrespect and abuse that has been going on for a long time now. The concept of "aloha" originates from the love that we share with our family. Hawaiians gave their "aloha" to everybody because they believed that all people, even the haole, were family. What happened is, this aloha was not returned, because the haole did not share the same understanding.
My ISP email account is always full so please email me here - hoailona@yahoo.com!
Malama pono,
Marie