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