The Narrow Path

As you enter the grounds, you are embraced with a sense of deep reverence, and almost instinctively, you fall into a silent awe. This is a place of royalty, and it is also one of the most sacred spiritual sanctuaries in the islands.

Pu’uhonua O Honaunau is what is known as a Place of Refuge, and the area is divided into two starkly different sections by a great rock wall standing 8 feet tall and about 17 feet thick. One side of the wall was the home of the ali’i or chiefs, and the other was the sanctuary.

In Hawaii, the people lived under a strict set of laws, and there was only one punishment for breaking a law… death. However, if someone could reach the place of refuge before he was caught, the temple priests would accept him or her into the sanctuary and forgiveness was granted, allowing the person to return to normal life. It was also where women and children or the sick or weak could come for refuge during times of war.

There are several heiau or temples throughout the grounds, but the central feature is the Hale O Keawe heiau. Built in the 15th century and destroyed during a period of spiritual change throughout Hawaii, it has since been restored and the temple rites reestablished.

(Hale O Keawe Heiau)

On one end of the temple, there are 7 carved wooden figure that are representations of aspects of the God Lono, God of the heavens, agriculture, medicine, and healing, to whom this temple is dedicated. In addition, there is a thatched hut structure that had housed the bones of 23 powerful chiefs. The bones contained the spiritual power of the chiefs and added to the mana, or spiritual power, of the place.

(One of the Lono Images)

It is a wonderful place to pray, meditate, or connect spiritually, and it is a place of great significance to our lineage. The Kahuna Nui (High Priest) of this temple was Kahu Lanakila, my mentor and spiritually adopted father. It is the place where our Kumu Kaleolani was named, and the temple area is a place where I was privileged to participate in sacred ceremonies with Lanakila as I continued my studies with him.

Just beyond the sacred grounds is a special place where we perform healings and rituals as part of the advanced and master level trainings. It’s a beautiful tide pool surrounded by lava rock and open to the ocean on one side. For me personally, the tide pool is where I was given the blessings and dedicated as Kahu O Mana, and where I was named by Kaleolani. It is a place that holds a very special connection to the ocean as a teacher and guide, and whenever I can, I come here to meditate and renew my relationship to the ‘aumakua.

(Me in the tidepool)

Most people attending the trainings feel a strong connection to the mana and spirit of Pu’uhonua o Honaunau, and it is a place I spend as much time as I can when I am here.

Tomorrow, we leave the Big Island for some vacation time on Kauai. We are going to start winding down the Share the Journey blog so we can invest our last few days into fully enjoying the island and our time with each other.

Ha’awi and I hope you enjoyed this sharing, and that you were able to get a small glimpse into the energy, wisdom, and experience of studying within our lineage, and the types of places we visit. The next Initial Level training is at the end of the month – October 27-30 (Thursday evening through Sunday). You can find details at www.kealakahiko.com. We hope you can join us at the training!

I Ke Kea Kahi (In the One Light),

~ Pono and Ha’awi

Introduction to the Element of Fire, and the Gods Ku and Pele

Several days ago we talked about the air element. Now that we are on the Big Island of Hawai’i, it’s a perfect opportunity to talk about fire. Why? Because this island is the site of one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, and volcanic activity is a wonderful example of the qualities of fire.

Fire is one of the major forces in the Universe, and as such it has a powerful influence on our spirits, our energies, and our physical bodies. Fire connects us to spirit – it provides that spark of divinity to inspire our thoughts and actions. Its force can be destructive yet also creative – while destroying the old, it creates the opportunity for rebirth and renewal. This is exemplified by the lava that spews forth from deep within the earth, blasting away all that is in its path, while at the same time creating new earth and the potential for new beginnings.

This process occurs over and over in our lives and is reflected in the circle of life that nature surrounds us with. Fire burns, and it heals. Fire illuminates, yet it can be blinding. Fire provides momentum, yet it can stop you in your tracks because it sets firm boundaries. Fire sparks the workings of the body systems – the beating of the heart, the reactions of the nervous system, the purification process of the liver. Without it we are lifeless, and lost in the dark. Within the teachings of our Hawaiian lineage, you can learn how to connect with fire as a source of inspiration and healing.

Ki’i (image) of the God Ku

Fire is associated with the Hawaiian God named Ku. Ku offers the energy of the protector and the provider. He represents the upright growth of plants and trees, of fertility, of the rising sun.

Ku represents the awesome complexities of life, both its negative and positive aspects. He stands for that which is upright and erect. He is the ‘ihe (spear), the god of war who takes life, and the ‘o’o (digging stick), who brings forth life from the earth. (credit to Bishop Museum)

The Goddess Pele in her three forms

Fire is also the element of Pele, goddess of the volcano. Pele is a wrathful goddess in her destructive energy. And she is most loving and benevolent in her warmth, her beauty, and her ability to create. It is said that after many journeys, Pele has taken up residence within Halema’uma’u, the crater at the top of the volcano. The Hawaiian people often honor Pele at the volcano with (kahea) ritual, (oli) chant, and (hula) dance.

We’ve had our own encounters with Pele under the care of our Kumu Kaleolani. Each has been a different experience reflecting our state of being at the time. One doesn’t approach Pele unprepared and without protocol, for she is demanding. We stand just at the edge of the vast outer crater, within a timelessness comprised of the empty energy of the open space, the constantly moving and changing plume of smoke, sulphur and ash, the sounds of various winds and the cries of far-away birds. We share an offering of berries and awa, and we say what we came there to say. If we are observant and deserving, Pele will answer with her shapes, her colors, and other elemental constructions. One approaches with an anxious anticipation, and leaves with a quickening of spirit that wasn’t there before (and these are also qualities of fire).

Halema’uma’u Crater

O kukulu ka pahu a ka leo hokiki kanawai
He Kua’a, he Kai’okia, he ala muku

Lash the drum of her whose voice severs all law
She is the one, whose back is burning,
She is the one who defines ocean boundaries
She is the path toward the release from human limitations.

(Apologies for not having the necessary Hawaiian fonts to accurately punctuate Hawaiian words.)

~ Ha’awi and Pono

We’ve already shared about our first day and the sunrise and the taro patch. These events took place in Halawa Valley. The next four days of the Ho’oponopono Teachers Training were held in a rental house at Pu’u o Hoku (Hill of Stars) Ranch, about 5 miles outside of Halawa on the east side of the island. Sharing the house were Kumu Lawrence, his haumana (student) Kawika, Kyrian from The Netherlands, JoAnna from Australia, Sue from Molokai, and us. All food was included and we took turns cooking and cleaning. Lawrence taught class in the living room. There are huge windows on two sides of the room. From one side, we could see the ocean and Maui. From the other, the view was of the high mountains of Molokai. Surrounding us were dry ranch lands and ironwood trees that constantly whispered in the wind. And the nene (endangered Hawaiian geese) kept us company all day. In the evenings, there were tons of huge red centipedes! And Lawrence would go out hunting them with a big knife. Their bite is very poisonous and in Lawrence’s lineage, they represent the kolohe, or the deceivers… And there would be plenty of talk story and hula dancing. Yes, a very cool place to hear these teachings!

(Our House at Pu’u o Hoku Ranch)

Pono has written about the meaning of Ho’oponopono, so I will tell you a little about the class experience. From the first there was an atmosphere of total respect for the Kumu and his ancient lineage. The teachings are from an oral lineage so were never written down. Each of us had been chosen to attend because of our prior meetings with and teachings from Lawrence, as well as for who and what we are and what we brought to class. We were told that we were there to receive the gift of helping others.

We listened as Lawrence discussed the meaning of Ke Akua (God) as understood by Hawaiians from generations back, and what is the meaning of prayer in the purest relationship we can achieve with Ke Akua. He taught us that there is rote prayer and there is the prayer of truth, that comes from deep within ourselves.

I ka po e ka na ao – from darkness is born light.
We talked about how all is right and true in the place of Origin, and how the purpose of Ho’oponopono is to bring people back to the truth. From Po the Source came light, the stars, planets, earth, and us. We were never and are never separated from that wholeness, and it is very important to develop that connection.

Pohaku (Rocks)
There is a well-known Hawaiian story about the bowl of shining light that we are each born with, and how as life progresses we tend to fill that bowl with pohaku, thus obscuring our innate light of spirit. These rocks represent things like anger, jealousy, and fears that we hang on to and that cause us to stray from that line of truth we should always be walking.

E hana mua a pa’a ke kahua, mamua o ke a’o ana aku ia ha’i. (Make firm
the foundation before teaching others.)
We each were asked to share what pohaku we are carrying in our bowls, and within the honesty and trust of the space we were in, our tears and stories were released. Always, always, the self must be cleared before work.

Aloha i ke kahi i ke kahi (Love each other unconditionally).
Lawrence taught us that there is no option to love. Hate and anger are not options. When we truly forgive and release, we are in a state of love that allows our prayers to be heard more fully.

We talked about how knowing these things means nothing – it is acting upon them that counts. We spent time discussing the A to Z of this process – how to move through life while being conscious of where we stand on the line of truth 24/7. Some concepts that support us through life include “makaukau” (be prepared, because life moves on and everything changes), and “kahea” (protocol – the rituals that give strength and structure to our activities).

We practiced giving Ho’oponopono sessions to each other, and were privileged to observe Lawrence giving a session to a local husband and wife. Thus Kumu Lawrence guided us gently yet firmly, from his place of pa’a (foundational wisdom), through the things we needed to learn.

(Front Row: Ha’awi, Lawrence, JoAnna, Kawika)
(Back Row: Pono, Sue, Kyrian)

JoAnna, Kyrian, Pono and I are the first from outside of this lineage to be granted the authority to offer Ho’oponopono sessions and to teach others. And we are so honored and grateful for this opportunity! Mahalo nui loa to Kumu Lawrence and the ancestors of Halawa Valley, Molokai, without whom these teachings could not have taken place. And mahalo to Kawika Foster, Lawrence’s incredible haumana, for stepping up as lineage-bearer, sharing so profoundly in the teachings and practices, and being the loving, pure person that he is.

Me ko’u aloha,
Ha’awi and Pono

In Hawaii past and present, it is common to be dedicated with one Kumu (teacher) for the majority of your training and to be sent away to study a specialization for awhile. We are grateful to Kaleolani, our primary Kumu, who gave his blessings for us to pursue the study of Ho’oponopono, which has a different perspective in our main lineage. These teachings have been passed through 50 generations spanning 2,000 years of family teachings of the people of Halawa. With this, the knowledge of our lineage expands.

(Pono, Lawrence, and Ha’awi)

On Tuesday, we completed our training in Ho’oponopono, and yesterday we left the Island of Molokai to land in Kona on the Big Island. With this brief time off to rest and reflect, we wanted to share with you a bit of what it is all about, and why it is so impactful in our lives.

How much life do we waste invested in drama, in holding on to anger, living in regret, and feeling abused or less than whole? How much better could we be without all the unnecessary conflicts (disagreements that are allowed to fester and grow)?

What if there was a way of living that could enable all of that waste to fall away, to find real and lasting forgiveness, and let it go? In today’s post, we want to share with you some ancient wisdom and a way of living that opens that healing. It is a tradition called Ho’oponopono.

Ho’oponopono is a Hawaiian word that means “to make right”, and it is a system of personal and group counseling that helps us put conflicts, disagreements, held emotions, and dishonesty to final and complete resolution.

It is one of those “simple, but not easy” practices that creates life-changing results.

Ho’oponopono is still practiced in many families on either a daily or weekly basis. All the members of the family are gathered together and use this method to resolve issues that they face.

The idea of this practice is that we all have an open connection with all life on the planet, called the aka cords. When disputes arise or hurt is caused and not corrected, we develop stones or “baggage” in our aka cords. The more baggage, the more closed our connection with life.

Since the Hawaiians see humanity and all life as descendants of the Divine, and since this is a sort of family counseling, the session always includes prayer and an invitation for the Divine and the ancestors to be present.

Then step-by-step, the facilitator and the participant(s) work to identify the specific baggage and resolutions needed to be freed from the past. Kumu Lawrence teaches that the past plus the present equals the future. In other words, if we stay stuck in the past, we will be stuck in those repeating patterns into the future. It is only what you do and heal today that enables an opportunity for a new future.

Kumu Lawrence calls the facilitator the “executioner” and it actually is an effective description. He told his four hand-selected students, “Your job is to find the baggage people carry, help them identify it, and then kill the baggage dead. It has to be gone and never come back.”

He also was quite clear that to be a practitioner, you first have to do this work for yourself in order to create a clear connection to see the truth for those who come for help. Having an executioner as a witness and as a clear vision to not get trapped in the story, but to cut to the source, is essential. It is far too easy to rationalize and therefore, stop the healing process from happening.

But most of all, action is what creates healing. We must take action to right the wrongs and heal the wounds. Intentions ands words are lovely, but only action solidifies the healing into reality in the eyes of the Gods. The last step of Ho’oponopono is to identify the actions to bring resolution to fullness.

~ Pono and Ha’awi

Aloha everyone! Yet another very full and very powerful day for us. On the dinner break, Ha’awi and I excused ourselves from the group to take a walk to the second most sacred place on the Island of Molokai.

We gained permission to cross the private ranch lands to the Sacred Kukui Grove of Lanikaula. It is not a place you go to without proper preparation and protocol. To Molokai, Lanikaula was a kahuna in the 1500s and was the most powerful kahuna ever. This is his grove of kukui trees.

Kukui trees hold very special meaning to the Hawaiians. The word kukui means “light”. In a forest, it is easy to spot the kukui trees because the leaves are an almost white shade of green. The nuts are very rich in oil and were burned as candles.

But then, the symbolism and meanings go much deeper. The light represents the spiritual light. It represents the spiritual aspects of man, and the reflection of what we truly are as the embodiment of spirit – light given form. That is the reverence we bring to the grove.

With prayer and a clear welcoming sign, we entered the grove of ancient trees. Passing the lines of newly planted trees that are part of the work by today’s caretakers, we entered the heart of the grove.

Wading separately through an ocean of grasses that reached over our heads, we each were drawn to our own spot to meditate and commune with the ‘aumakua (spirits) of the place. The grasses flowed like the tides and the winds circled through the trees.

The grasses became like a sea of mana, or spiritual power, that embraced us and supported us. It was easy to analyze everything, to be thinking too much, but that itself was the message. Light doesn’t think about the experience of being light. It just is light… radiant, true, and unapologetic in its fullness. The grove invited us to stop thinking and simply feel… to simply “be present” in the moment. It invited us to be the moment rather than an outsider observing the experience.

As we completed our time there we emerged from the forest. We turned the corner around the edge of the grove to be met with the magnificent full moon representing Hina – the mother goddess who gave birth to this island – rising through the trees of the grove. When we saw three birds take flight from the grasses around us, we knew it was time to go.

Yes, it was another magnificent day living on Molokai.
~ Pono and Ha’awi

Aloha Kakou!

We’ve reached the mid-point of our training with Kumu Lawrence and the traditions of ho’oponopono, and it is an intense process.  There is so much to absorb in such a short time.  Talk story with kumu is going late into the evening, so tonight, we will not be able to post.

Until Tomorrow!

~ Pono and Ha’awi

The na’au is the Hawaiian name for the energy center below the navel that carries our personal power and the wisdom that comes only with experience (pa’a). It is also where we experience our connection to the Earth. It is the development of this connection that must come first on one’s spiritual path. With our feet on the ground, we have the foundation to look to inspiration from the heavens without wavering. We are strong; we are rooted in our knowledge of who we truly are and where we came from.

Our training began today with an acknowledgement of this fundamental principal. We awoke at 4:00 a.m. and made our way to the end of the road on the east side of the island, at pristine and untouched Halawa Valley. The valley is where the first Polynesian voyagers landed to settle this island, and it is where Kumu Lawrence was born and raised and where he received his teachings from na kupuna (the elders) of his lineage. It is a gorgeous cleft between high cliffs with towering waterfalls at its heart, and lush jungle and river all the way down to the bottom. Here the valley meets the ocean with a gorgeous beach, which is where we began our day.

E ala e, ka la i ka hikina, i ka moana, ka moana hohonu
Pi’i ka lewa, ka lewa nu’u, i ka hikina, aia ka la.
E ALA E!!

We stood there in the dark wearing only pareos, with the dawn wind blowing hard into our faces, and we waited for over an hour for the first glimpse of the sun above the cliffs. This required patience and the knowing that we wait for the gods – for Ke Kumu, who reigns supreme over the tasks we are undertaking. When the sun rose, we voiced the oli (chant) written above, in greeting and reverence.

The next step was to purify ourselves for our work, so we walked into the ocean, submerging our bodies with the intention of cleansing. Afterwards, we sat down to partake of an awa ceremony for the purpose of acknowledging the presence and the importance of the ancestors. (Awa is a plant- based ceremonial drink.) We each drank a cup of awa ritually presented to us, and when we were done the remainder was poured into the earth to share with the ancestors. The entire ritual was done in silence, except for the pounding of the ocean and the sound of the wind blowing through the valley. Vital. Spiritual. Ancient. Profound…

Next, it was time to connect with ka ‘aina (the land). We went up the valley to Kumu Lawrence’s home, where he tends several taro patches. He talked story with us about the taro plant, explaining its place in the cosmology of the Hawaiian people, where taro is considered an ancestor and revered. It is said that once the taro disappears, so will the Hawaiian people. Lawrence has sworn that will not happen with his family. We were put to work in one of the loi’s (patch of taro). We pulled weeds and removed rocks and debris that threaten the nourishment of the taro plants. Taro is grown in several inches to a foot of water, so soon we were wet and muddy. Yet it was an empowering process. We were working in the way of the ancestors. A rhythm emerged – stoop, sweep with the hands, pull weeds, throw them on the banks – again and again. We worked in rows and the rich soil soon filled our fingernails and was splashed all over us. And ka ‘aina spoke to each of us what we needed to hear…

The morning ended with a shared meal. The others are napping before we regroup late this afternoon, but we drove out to find service so we could share this joyful experience with you!

~ Ha’awi and Pono

Tomorrow we begin the study that was the main purpose of our trip. The following article describes the reason and purpose for this workshop. It was written by the Kumu who will be teaching the class, Lawrence Kalainia Kamani Aki of Halawa Valley on the island of Molokai. Kumu Lawrence is descended from the first settlers on Molokai and his genealogy and lineage are one of the most pure in the islands.

“Ho’oponopono” means to “make right”, and it is the name of a Hawaiian method of healing through forgiveness of the self and others, a method used not only for emotional trauma but also for physical and spiritual healing. We’re privileged and very excited to study this spiritual process in the old ways and to bring back the knowledge to share with and teach to others.

The article below was published in an Australian newsletter created by Joanna Goldman, called “Kumus Talk Story”, and is reproduced here with Lawrence’s permission.

We will be in an immersion class for the next five days, living in the same house on the east side of Molokai with the Kumu, his assistants, and the other students. We will attempt to post to the blog daily, but internet and cell phone service are weak there.

Me ke aloha,
Pono and Ha’awi

HO’OPONOPONO
Sharing the Preserved Knowledge with Teachers of the Future
by Lawrence Kalainia Kamani Aki

From October 7th to 11th, 2011 I will be holding the first Invitational Ho’oponopono Teachers class here on Molokai. Through my two years of traveling and receiving visitors staying with me here in Halawa, I have been asked by many if I could teach them Ho’oponopono. This request triggered me to consider looking for people that would be great teachers of the knowledge preserved by my ancestors.

This preserved knowledge was taught to me first by my grandmother Bernice Kawailani Naho‘opi‘i who with my grandfather Mateo Mollena had hanai’d (Hawaiian adoption) both myself and my older brother Harry Ku‘uipo Aki III, from birth. My great grandfather Pa‘ahao Naho‘opi‘i who was also very important in sharing many things with both of us was instrumental in our training process also.

People like both Anake (Aunty) Harriet Ne and Anakala (Uncle) Pilipo Solatorio, and others embedded and instilled into both my brother and I the need to Ho’oponopono (clear the path, so to make right) to have the ability to utilize our “Aka Cord” (spiritual cord of connection) to all things in this universe. Most importantly, to then have the ability to receive the help of the energy power that is directed by the higher being for our and your usage to help others.

So with this history in mind, I have opened a door to allow this training to take place, to provide the future with teachers. Teachers who have the genuine ability to help others, which this world needs so desperately in this period of time. It is important for me to recognize people like Aunty Molly Tengan, Anakala Matthew Kaeo Adolpho (deceased), and Aunty Maile Pidot, who are all from Molokai and are a group of Na Kupuna (elders) who I have worked with as my spiritual guardians when working with the Molokai Ranch as their “Cultural Resource Management Consultant”. It is these Na Kupuna after the passing of my great grandfather, grandmother, and grandfather, that continued to remind me, and embed in me, not to forget the blessing of the teachings that have been gifted to me. I have Nui Mahalo, and Aloha for these Kupuna and all Kupuna of my past who have contributed to my learning.

It is through words of wisdom shared in Mary Kawena Pukui’s book of Hawaiian Proverbs, Ōlelo No‘eau, that I have grown up with and what was shared on a daily basis with me, that makes much sense to me.

E hana mua a pa‘a ke kahua, mamua o ke a‘o ana aku ia ha‘i
(Work first to make firm the foundation before teaching others) !!!

It is because of the mass of people who proclaim to teach the ancient knowledge of my ancestors, especially Ho’oponopono.

‘Ike ‘ia no ka loea i ke kuahu
(An expert is recognized by the altar he builds)

It is with these words of wisdom that I have decided to train the teachers of the future with the knowledge of Ho’oponopono. So as to make sure this knowledge continues to be available for all, even after the passing of Anakala Pilipo and myself.

Today we waved goodbye to the skyscrapers of O’ahu and happily turned our thoughts to the island of Molokai. Ahhh Molokai, that most Hawaiian of islands – where the old ways are still in evidence and where, except for the restricted island of Ni’ihau, you will find the highest population of pure Hawaiians. There is only one stoplight on the entire island, life is slower, and everyone knows everyone else. People from the shops and even the car rental desk remember us! And as for us, we know and love the island – we aloha Molokai!

Molokai has a place in the heart of our Ku lineage. Nelita had ancestors from here, and Kaleolani spent much time here with her. He has shared that on Molokai, he had some of his most profound experiences. It is a most powerful place, where the magics are still commonplace… We often come to this island when Kaleolani teaches the advanced and master trainings.

One very special place for our lineage is the Kalaupapa Overlook. At the edge of 1500 foot high cliffs, you stand looking out over the penninsula of land where the leper colony lived under the care of recently sainted Father Damien.

An Introduction to the Air Element

What makes this place so special is the wind. As you face the ocean, you look northward, and you feel the power and hear the voice of the air element. While you can experience the air element anywhere in the world, here it moves so freely… untouched by land for approximately 2500 miles before coming up against the world’s tallest sea cliffs!

Hawaiian masters have come to recognize the 139 different kinds of wind, through diligent observation looking for qualities and patterns within how the wind moved, felt, and interacted with the land, plants, and sea.

This knowledge was then applied to understandings for agriculture, seamanship, omens, and for healing. Our lineage understands that we are elemental beings, living in an elemental universe. The four elements of fire, water, air, and earth are the building blocks for life. And here on Molokai, we can know the element of air like no other place.

The element of air knows no boundary. It is the element of sound and of the heavens. Air is in constant motion and desires to be free. It creates expansion, movement, and it transports our prayers to the heavens.

One example of how the air the element can be a teacher is shown through my meditation today at the lookout. As I meditated on self-healing, the air element showed me all the places in my body that were asking for more freedom (a quality of the air element).

There are many, many different qualities and applications for the element of air, which we will explore in the Po’ohuna: Hawaiian Spirituality and Elemental Healing Training starting on October 27th.

A hui hou (until we meet again),
~ Pono and Ha’awi