KAHUNA | kahunalalapaau

Tahuna Of Hawai'i

Of The Lono Order

History of the Tahuna goes back hundreds of years ago. The title “Tahuna” was received and not used indiscriminately. It was honorific of the highest order, and signified that a person was an expert in his field.

The most proficient of the Tahuna would be given the title of "Keeper of the Huna Mana ", but this title “Tahuna” was not often used. To place “Kahuna” in front of a title denoted that a certain person was the highest expert in his field, or fields whether it be in the ohana or a specific moku (Island). The haumana (student) must be born of this land of Hawai'i who studied under their Kumu (master), and was not given this title even if he had studied for many, many years under their Kumu. Only when the ancient one’s, and ancestors have blessed them with the mana, or when an elderly Tahuna was about to pass from this life, this is when one would be appointed to be his successor. If a pupil was highly favored with wisdom and quickness of mana'o (mind) the Tahuna would call him to his side and would breathe into his mouth to pass on some bit of knowledge that had been taught on the Heiau (temples). When the elder breathes his last breath, the new appointed one would pick up his duties. He who excelled in the knowledge became the next keeper of the Huna Mana.

In the Hawaiian moku, if a child is born of this aina (land) with a special gift and an old soul, the ancestors will watch over and guide him until he meets his master. The master will teach him of the old ways. They will not learn by books, or in a classroom but only amongst the elements from mauka (mountains) to makai (sea). If the master has his own valley and heiau he will have his haumana go there to mediate. There the ancestors will teach them throughout the night and when they have returned to their master, the master will know if they’re the “chosen one” or not. After returning to their master, the master will not tell the haumana if they have been chosen, but the master will continue keep this haumana under his wings if they have been chosen by the ancient ones and ancestors and until their master passes.

A true haumana will learn from only one master until the ancestors take their master home, and only then will the ancestors guide them to their new master. This is done by a power of the unknown spiritual world. A law not known of by man, but of Ke Mana`o `Io, the ancestors, and of all the tupuna of this light. They will then carry the haumana on their wings to keep what is holy and true protected, and keep the haumana safe. A true haumana must be of this aina from birth until he passes. This is because the aloha, the wisdom and the knowledge will be their whole life of learning on this aina. This time of learning is what will keep them grounded to their ancient ancestral roots. The only place all of this can come from is on these moku (islands) that was once called the Continent of Mu.

For years we are have been perpetuating the healing arts through restoring, protecting, and preserving our Native Hawaiian traditional practices, our culture and language. The Tahuna “keeper of the secrets” were those responsible for maintaining our ho`omana (religion) systems. Our religious practices had been suppressed and forced into secrecy by the western influence. This was the cause to our Tahuna practicing only within the ohana, and not being able to share, or pass on the knowledge. Many of those who have passed took the knowledge with them to their graves purely to protect the future generations of the grief and pain they endured during their lifetime.

Today the Tahuna comes forward to share the wisdom and knowledge because for too long they have seen our people’s dignity stripped from them and literally we have become a dying race. Today our people have the highest death rates in the nation. Our people are dying from foreign diseases, accidents, suicides, and all forms of abuse. History is once again being repeated. In the past our people literally gave up living because of the grief and pain the western civilization had caused them. Their very existence was taken from them, imposing in on their beliefs and human laws, which caused much confusion and imbalance in a Hawaiian nation that once lived in harmony with themselves and the Universe. Today our people are literally dying from the western influenced foods; medicines that may cure one ailment but, may cause another ailment; western education that deprives our people from learning their own history, culture and language; and dominate impositions that deprive our people from being Hawaiian, and from living as a Hawaiian.

We believe that by bringing understanding to our people of their culture, language, and enlightening them of their spiritual selves, this will help them to sustain harmony with themselves and everything around them.

The Tahuna come forward to share the knowledge that they have mastered for many years with their haumana. This knowledge and training far surpasses the western training of man. The western training would have taken man too far from the root of their very existence, their land and their spiritual soul. For these are the roots that can sustain a longer lifetime for man himself.

Our Hawaiian people were a spiritual and highly religious people. In the past our people worshipped and had knowledge of all the elements in the universe. The Tahuna then and today retain this knowledge that assisted them in creating harmony. This knowledge helped to allow healing of the physical and spiritual being. The ho`omana of our Hawaiian people took many forms; as Heiau, where the mana and teaching of the ancient ones remain till today; as the rifts and plains of Tutu Pele, her steam, her mist, her fire, her domain teaches and cares for her ohana; Kamapua`a, the protector of the aina, keeper of the Ali`i; the land, the water and the la'au that nourish and heal the human form. The Hawaiian ho`omana (religion) is all consuming, believing and worshipping of all the elements around us that sustains not only perfect health, but harmony with the total universe.

We will protect our lapa`au and defend the desecration of any historical sites in our lands of Hawaii nei, whether it be heiau, burial sites, Tutu Pele's domain, fish ponds, lo`i, kaula, or agricultural terraces of our past. These sites are our past, these sites are the teaching places of our culture, our traditions, and these sites are our future.

It was written that in 1863 – 1866 both Kamehameha V and his successor, Mo`i Kalakaua, invited the Kahuna to come to Honolulu to share their wisdom. They compiled oral and written histories and documented the prayers, chants, hula, and remedies for healing. King Kalakaua convened groups of Kahuna to consult with each other to preserve their heritage. This and many other moves by King Kalakaua outraged the Christian residents. In 1887 they forced the "Bayonet Constitution" upon the King, while all this illegal maneuvering took place, the Kahuna continued to practice “underground” as their ancestors had always done to save our people and a dying race.

Contents of this mana'o may not be duplicated with permission " KAPU"