Posted by Uncle Charlie on December 18, 1998 at 02:42:05:
In Reply to: Huna posted by Lori on December 17, 1998 at 18:34:40:
: Dear Uncle Charlie,
:
: I recently came accross information about Huna by(Serge King). It said that Huna does not
: interfere with religion and is practiced by all Hawaiian. It is supose to be the TRUE "Aloha Spirit".
: You always speak the truth, even when it is not a popular opinion. Could you please share with me
: your true feelings on this(Huna)and if it is truly Aloha Spirit or something that
: is done/said for tourists?
: Do feel it's O.K. for non Hawaiians to practice Huna or should it be respected as part of Hawaiian culture.
: Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are very busy right now.
: Respectfully,
: Lori
: God Bless
Aloha Lori, personally I get upset when I hear the name of Sarge King who is koko-ole(non-Hawaiian)and profess to know about our people. Now that I am a Hawaiian Kahu, I have more compassion for people like him and feel deeply that if people speak untruths, then it is not my problem, it is theirs. The word "Aloha Spirit" was in fact coined by the tourist industry a long time ago. The Hawaiian people truely had a culture that called for sharing whatever they had. I was raised with these values in mind and can remember my mother telling me, Dont admire anything in Auntie' house because she will give it to you. This was an inbred cultural trait that our ancestors promoted. I can remember people coming over my home and they was always something to eat, even if it was going into the yard and killing the last rooster to put in the pot. Mind you we did not have freezers or refrigerators. Every we lived on was raised or planted. This "custom" was also our downfall because westerners came(from Capt. Cook on)with the mistaken idea that our people valued nothing. Because they would give everything away. They misunderstood the fact that our community existed by sharing with one another. The western people did not know what the meaning of "share" was and they took without given anything in return. The subject of Huna is foreign to me and has no place in the Hawaiian Culture. The word "Huna" means secret, Ka Huna is "the secret" Ka Huna is used to describe a person of great knowledge. A Priest or Rev. is called a Kahuna Pule(prayer), Kahuna Ana Ana is a sorcerer, who pray people to death. Kahuna Lapa'au is a(doctor), a healer with herbs and it goes on and on. The point I want to make here that it is a title bestowed on a person with great knowledge, wisdom and power. You must beware of people speaking things to gallable people who will listen. We even have people who lived here for several months and are bring tourist from the mainland paying big many to expeirence "cultural and spiritual" messages from the goddess of the Volcano. They really need blessings. About 15 years ago I thought Hawaiian spirituallity classes and at the end of 5 weeks, the students from the mainland wanted to "walk on fire" like they did in ancient times. I told them that is was a sacred practice and dont even go there. They found a "waha he'e", a person talking like the octopus with eight legs,(talking in eight directions at once). He "taught" them how to "walk" on fire, and they all landed up in the hospital with their feet all burnt. Aloha Uncle Charlie