Traditional Spirituality in Hawaii

Traditional Spirituality in Hawaii

By Mahealani Kuamo'o-Henry, Kumu 'Elele 'O Na Kupuna, July 2009

Hawaiians have lived with refined, simple and pragrmatic spiritual values for thousands of years. These teachings have always reflected a deep understanding of universal laws that make them just as applicable today as they were hundreds, if not thousands of years ago.   Many  Hawaiians share a heightened awareness of the self being connected to every part of everything and they nurture the teachings and daily practises of oneness and self-greatness, known losely as the "aloha spirit".

The Hawaiian sense of connection to oneness even includes all those who had departed from the physical world.  In Hawaiian spirituality there is no death, just “changing address” from human to spirit form.  It is a recognition that a change from physical to spirit form is nothing more than a shedding of the physical body and represents new beginnings that may include serving as a spiritual guide on the other side.

Hawaiian Connection to Oneness

The ancient teachings of Hawaii embrace a journey of many life times and a way of life that embraces the now in a timeless experience of aloha love. The  teachings have always promoted respect for all that is good for the self and others while placing the self in alignment with universal laws.

"Ho’opono Pono Ke Ala" is the belief system and method for “making right more right, the path.” Many are surprised to learn about this form of Ho’opono pono rooted in the Aloha Spirit  because it is so different to the Christian and Western idea of conflict resolution. Ho’opono Pono Ke Ala predates the introduced notion of conflict and brings forward the Aloha for self and the practise of recognising self-greatness. It is about experiencing life moment by moment and putting aside the fear based mind-set based on power, control, sin and guilt.  It is the ancient knowing that you are obviously the best “you” ever and that there are no duplicate you's!  You are it; the original YOU. And as a god or goddess you make no mistakes!

In Hawaiian spirituality, "E kanawai Moaka'aka" is the law of attraction and manifestation that literally means the “smiling law” in Hawaiian.  It is taught to the kamali’i children as the universe “smiling” upon the world without judgment. Great importance is placed upon taking responsibility for all of creation and especially your own decisions.  This law is passed on to children, beginning with their own "bowl of light”  which embodies experiences and values contained in the ancient teachings of ho'opono pono ke ala.

Ho’oponopono (pronounced as one word) is the more familiar method for “making right, the wrongs,” The second form of this teaching (noted as two words) is the essence of traditional Hawaiian Spirituality and it is identified as Ho’opono Pono Ke Ala – “making right, more right, the path.”  The difference is the Aloha Spirit value of promoting wellness and rightness. In the Hawaiian aloha mindset it was understood that one who chooses to accept wellness at the outset receives it sooner. So the concept of wellness suited our Hawaiian ancestors and the practice was eagerly promoted and embraced. This was prior to western and missionary influences and, unfortunately, it is largely an unfamiliar practice to most Hawaiians today.

Ho’opono Pono or "making right, more right” was generally recognized as a form of weekly counseling used within the Hawaiian family structure and facilitated by a kupuna-elder family member. These family gatherings helped to promote, instill, and maintain positive, aloha-loving, and spiritual values within the family, as well as affecting wellness within the social structure of the villages.

Missionary influences

Over a period of time, with western and missionary influences, the values in the Ho’opono Pono method changed to include negative aspects of guilt, fault, blame and ridicule, requiring unlimited, frequent focus on forgiveness. Eventually, family members, overwhelmed by negative influences ceased to hold Ho’oponopono gatherings within the family. Many became reliant upon Church elders or family elders who became “acceptable" Christians. They encouraged the administration of Ho’oponopono counseling only in desperate situations. Today, this Christian form of Ho’oponopono is the one most Hawaiians remember being taught and used by their Kupuna, if indeed it was used at all.

Ho’opono Pono Ke Ala

The ancient Hawaiian counseling method for “making right, more right the path,” utilizes the philosophy and practice of Aloha Lokahi - love and unity, the all encompassing and important aspect of the Aloha Spirit value system that was wholeheartedly embraced before the Christians arrived.

Aloha Spirit

Hawaiians once so enlightened by the Aloha Spirit concepts and practices believed that all things, all conditions, all people, and all of nature were and are in "pono" or excellence and rightness. And thought that “changes” are normal occurrences indicating a need  for adjustment in making pono more pono – right, more right in the never ending flow of life.

In administering Ho’opono Pono, kupuna-elders used the practice of "mo’olelo" or story telling more than direct counseling. The Mo’olelo style of learning established a neutral, conducive atmosphere and enabled the kupunas to communicate knowledge and values in a non-confrontational manner while increasing awareness and wellness rooted in the Aloha Spirit.

Spiritual Self-greatness

Today, within our global communities, the need for growth, enlightenment peace and joy are more necessary than ever before. And these needs must be embraced and filled within self, individually, There are no “accidents,” only the “timeless and opportune moments,” to experience spirituality, physically, and energetically and to create and manifest for ourselves.

We came gifted with all the energetic and genetic coding perfectly intact and once we get over ourselves and reconnect with our internal guidance system and align with our gang of ancestors, angels, and guides, we are on track. There are no secrets, no exotic rituals, no isms to spiritual self-greatness, just a willing mind and heart ready to re-connect to the ancient and internal wisdoms of Aloha Lokahi - love and unity.