The Narrow Path

Yesterday, we were blessed with a wonderful opportunity. The teacher we study lomilomi with is Dan Moore, and he studies with a kumu here on O’ahu. We had the good fortune to spend a few hours with Kai’po Kaneakua, a Hawaiian master of healing, over lunch.

Almost immediately, and without us asking, he began teaching. He generously shared through what the Hawaiians call “Talk Story”, and much of the stories that he shared for both of us were actually about us and about what we need for our next steps in development. As we left, we both felt as if we had been given a healing through his talk.

Then, he invited us to meet again in the evening and he did talk story for another 3 hours or so. One message that he offered that we would like to share with you is about personal mastery.

He said, “You don’t learn anything by hearing someone talk or by reading a book. You become a master by doing.” He said he learned how to do his healing work by experimentation on himself. He told us that over his lifetime he has suffered many serious illnesses and healed himself to find what worked. He said that he taught himself herbal medicine by using the plants himself and observing the effects. So, here is the question… are you willing to be a “believer” or a “knower”? How much of what you “know” is because someone told you it was true?

You can only really know something by using it in your life with Open Eyes. You must have the courage to explore and the vision and patience to observe the subtleties to create real understanding, or real knowing.

In our Hawaiian training, that is how learning happens. It is an awakening or remembering of our innate knowledge and skill. It is all about you becoming a fuller embodiment of what you came here to be. There is a song about the Island of Molokai that goes, “It makes makes you more of who you are, and less of what you want to be.” If we keep looking outside, we see everything we are not. If we focus on what is true inside, we find the real and powerful us. We find our inner source.

I Ke Kea Kahi (In the One Light),

Pono and Ha’awi.

On this first full day in the Islands, we want to honor our Kumus or teachers. Our personal training is dedicated to the teachings shared by Kumu Kaleolani. Kaleolani’s lineage is formed by two family lineages: Kahu Nelita Po’okui Anderson and Kahu Lanakila Brandt.

Both Nelita and Lanakila were born here on the Island of O’ahu, and so, with our gratitude, we share a brief biography of each.

Kahu Lanakilakahuokalani Brandt was a tall man with bright blue eyes. For more than 60 years, he practiced and taught the old ways of spiritual mysteries and sacred healing. During the time when public practice of Hawaiian spiritual work and speaking the Hawaiian language was outlawed, he taught hula, percussion, and instrument making. He courageously fought for the right to practice the priestly ways taught to him by his great-grandfather and other highly respected teachers.

He was Kahuna Pule at Pu’uhonua O Honaunau, and he was a master of La’au Kahea (spiritual healing known as “the calling medicine.”) His wisdom and compassionate presence touched the lives of people from all around the world.

At the time of his death in 2005, he was the oldest living authority on Hawaiian Spirituality.

Nelita Kapaaloha Po’okui Lonokahikini Peleiholani Kukuilaakaa Kenway Cook Anderson was born and raised here on O’ahu, where she was rigorously trained for 20 years from the age of four by her Tutu (Grandmother) in several family specialties, including energetic healing in a traditional style, the gift of past and future sight, and others. She was a medical kahuna with powerful healing abilities. Nelita began to teach others in her middle years, at which time she connected with our Kumu (teacher), Ed Kaleolani Spencer. She has passed from this life and Kaleolani continues to teach the ancient wisdom that she shared with him.

Kaleolani spent much of his life as a healer and body-worker before meeting Nelita. He is a registered nurse, a Rolfing practitioner and a Gestalt therapist to name a few. The meeting of Nelita and Kaleolani opened many possibilities as they recognized the gifts within one another. Nelita taught Kaleolani in the old ways and they shared a long and loving relationship dedicated to preserving the knowledge of the family lineage and bringing healing to others. Kaleolani founded Ke Kumu, an organization that continues this work today. Pono and Ha’awi are privileged and proud to be his students.

Rick (Pono’uhane-Ho’okuakua Kaloko-Maika’i-O-Ka-Lahui-Kanaka) Vrenios is a student of Kaleolani and has been granted the title of Kahu o Mana and the entitlement to teach the foundations of this lineage. He also studied directly with Kahu Lanakila Brandt.

Linda Ha’awilanikealoha Arigi began her studies in this lineage with Pono, and continues with Kaleolani in the advanced and master levels of the teachings.

We honor our Kumus, without whom our journey would not be possible.
Me ke aloha pumehana, me ke mahalo nui (with our warmest aloha and deepest gratitude)
~ Pono and Ha’awi

The narrow path is a name given to describe the old time training of the kahuna, because it was a path of self-mastery.

We have chosen to walk this narrow path to rediscover who and what we truly are. You are invited to come along to share this journey and experience the sacred beauty and wisdom of Hawaii. For us, each time we return to the islands, we reaffirm our commitment to the teachings of our Hawaiian lineage.

Yesterday, we landed on the Island of O’ahu. Spending our first evening together, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset on Waikiki Beach. The setting sun represented letting go of who we have been to begin yet again with open eyes to the possibilities of the future.

In this tradition, all things begin with prayer asking the Gods and ancestors to participate. Life is a joining together of the living and the spirit, and so we begin with a simple, yet profound prayer.

E ho mai ka ‘ike mai luna mai e
I na mea huna no’eau o na ‘aumakua e
E ho mai
E ho mai
E ho mai e

Please grant the knowledge from above,
The hidden knowledge of the ancestors.
Please bring forth…
Please bring forth…
Please bring forth.

I Ke Kea Kahi (In the One Light),

Pono and Ha’awi