Journey into Old Hawai'i Nei

At these great celebrations all the old chants were told

Transformational Voyages — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:18:15 +0000

At the presentation of family, each family line was presented and the genealogy recited of that line. With our family, all the children of my grandfather Kaiakea, their wives and children, grandchildren and great grandchildren would all be in attendance. This was the only time we saw each other all year, as we all had families of our own and the rest of the year we were busy with working the land and caring for the things that filled our days and nights. At these great celebrations all the old chants were told; of our history, our heritage, of Moloka ‘i o Hina. There would be many tears and much laughter. All who had passed into spirit during the year would be remembered, and chants and mele in their honor recited.

During this time, we did no work except for the preparation of food and other essentials. The days were full of games and contests. When the best of each game or contest was decided, these were the participants who represented our family against other families in the islands. This was mainly in sports, but included games of skill and martial arts. When the time came for our family to participate in the games against other families, we stood as one body behind our players. We cheered and yelled, and on occasion, when we felt a member of the other side did not play honorably we called him names and reviled his ancestors (for which we all had to be penitent later). Then as now, people were people. We had good times and bad times; fun times and hard times. The difference comes when it comes to family. Then we were part of the whole. We had our ‘Ohana.

Excerpted from “Tales of the Night Rainbow” written by Koko Willis & Pali Jae Lee.

To order the book from the PUBLISHER, please email: taysheart13@hotmail.com

Journey back to Lemuria with Sacred Voyages

Every family member who was alive attended this meeting.

Transformational Voyages — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:16:33 +0000

Once a year, at Makahiki season, we had presentation of family. Every family member who was alive attended this meeting. Family members that had moved away from our community returned. It was a time of great rejoicing, remembering and romancing — for we met family we had not known before, and the young ones fell in love, some stayed behind when the family left, while others left with cousins when the time came to leave.

Excerpted from “Tales of the Night Rainbow” written by Koko Willis & Pali Jae Lee.

To order the book from the PUBLISHER, please email: taysheart13@hotmail.com

Journey back to Lemuria with Sacred Voyages

Each knew his own heart and body.

Transformational Voyages — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:14:34 +0000

Our rules or laws were few in the family but we all knew them by heart. All were free to come and go, and do as they wished, as long as they did no harm to another.
All that was worked upon was shared with the family, divided into four portions; the first going to the elderly who could no longer work for themselves.
Who the elderly were, was not decided by any but the person himself. Some worked hard every day and were far older than some who had laid the day’s work aside. Each knew his own heart and body. They knew when they could no longer share in the work load.
We shared with other members of the family and took the last portion for our own household.
Our family did not consider ourselves to be ali’i. We considered ourselves to be above ali’i. We were a sacred line, here from the beginning of time.

Excerpted from “Tales of the Night Rainbow” written by Koko Willis & Pali Jae Lee.

To order the book from the PUBLISHER, please email: taysheart13@hotmail.com

Journey back to Lemuria with Sacred Voyages

The ‘aumakua was part of our family circle

Transformational Voyages — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 19:13:07 +0000

The ‘aumakua was also a part of our family circle, and explaining this is difficult. Perhaps you could understand it as a guardian angel. Christians believe that — well, we had our aumakua. That is as near as I can explain it. The ‘aumakua was our identity and an important part of the family. It did not need to be in the body of anything, however, for the ‘aumakua was a spirit. They were like a messenger between the two worlds — the spirit and the flesh. They had access to both worlds (or places). Our family aumakua was a Moo (lizard or dragon) my mother’s family line had as their aumakua the thunder.

If we were one with all things and all matter, we were one with them and they were one with us. Why should that seem so strange? Our family aumakua were sometimes printed in kapa design on our family banner for the Makahiki games.
It was to bring forth all the mana of the spirit family. Nobody was afraid. It was all part of the fun.

Excerpted from “Tales of the Night Rainbow” written by Koko Willis & Pali Jae Lee.

To order the book from the PUBLISHER, please email: taysheart13@hotmail.com

Journey back to Lemuria with Sacred Voyages

The ‘aha consisted of the flesh, or living family, and the spirit family.

Transformational Voyages — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 19:09:00 +0000

The ‘aha consisted of the flesh, or living family, and the spirit family. That a person had passed from flesh did not make them less family. They were spoken of and to, remembered in mele and chant. At meals they were remembered before the family ate the food. For this reason foreigners said we had hundreds of gods that we prayed to. Gods indeed, they were our family — our loved ones — our parents.

Excerpted from “Tales of the Night Rainbow” written by Koko Willis & Pali Jae Lee.

To order the book from the PUBLISHER, please email: taysheart13@hotmail.com

Journey back to Lemuria with Sacred Voyages

Forgiving and forgetting are part of the same whole.

Transformational Voyages — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:06:58 +0000

At the ‘aha, matters of importance to the entire family were discussed, and once a year plans for the Makahiki were made. Family members were reminded of teachings, when it was felt that one or a few needed to be reminded. One teaching that people needed to be reminded of most frequently was: To say that one forgives and then not forget, is not to forgive at all. Forgiving and forgetting are part of the same whole. To say you have forgiven and continue to bring up the problem is a great error and is to carry a large rock in your “bowl of light.”
For the reason of forgiving and forgetting, many elders did not wish to discuss the past with the children. Starting to tell stories of long ago could often bring back old hurts, old feelings of resentment and anger. Stones long gone would arise again. Some who had moved on into the spirit world might be dishonored.
So they felt it was best forgotten, and our history was buried with the kupuna and it was no more.

Excerpted from “Tales of the Night Rainbow” written by Koko Willis & Pali Jae Lee.

To order the book from the PUBLISHER, please email: taysheart13@hotmail.com

Journey back to Lemuria with Sacred Voyages

Family members did not question the family council.

Transformational Voyages — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:04:47 +0000

Family members did not question the family council. The decisions they made were considered law and the family abided by them. They had the greatest mana and knowledge. For this reason they were our leaders. We did not argue with them, even if we disagreed in our hearts.

The kupuna ruled at all ‘aha (family meetings) and ‘aha ‘aina (meeting where food was served). They handled all disputes within the family and problems family members had with outsiders. When an ‘aha was called, no one questioned going. The rule was — if you were alive, not dying, or laid up with two broken legs, you got up and attended. It was not questioned; it was done.

Excerpted from “Tales of the Night Rainbow” written by Koko Willis & Pali Jae Lee.

To order the book from the PUBLISHER, please email: taysheart13@hotmail.com

Journey back to Lemuria with Sacred Voyages

Maka weliweli was a teacher and a mystic

Transformational Voyages — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:02:56 +0000

In our family line it was possible to serve in more than one family council. Maka weliweli served in her father’s council before his death; she was a member of our kupuna (elders); and served in family councils for two of her brothers.
Maka weliweli was a teacher and a mystic so was not always around when a family council was held. When she was with us she did not always choose to sit with the elders. If family members wondered why this was they kept it in their own hearts and did not ask questions.

Excerpted from “Tales of the Night Rainbow” written by Koko Willis & Pali Jae Lee.

To order the book from the PUBLISHER, please email: taysheart13@hotmail.com

Journey back to Lemuria with Sacred Voyages

The kupuna was our chief or ruling elder

Transformational Voyages — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:00:24 +0000

When a person proved himself through years of hard work and wise thinking, if they were known for being loving and unselfish in all things, and had mastered many of the family secrets, sooner or later their name would come up and the kupuna would discuss making this person a part of their group. No vote was taken.
If everyone was in agreement, then at the family ‘aha (meeting) they were requested to join the other kupuna who ruled, on the upper part of the circle. It may sound simple. It was not.

One of the kupuna was our chief or ruling elder. He did not rule alone like the ali’i. All our ruling elders ruled together. This one person met with other family heads when there was need of it, and brought us news of what was going on in other families.

Excerpted from “Tales of the Night Rainbow” written by Koko Willis & Pali Jae Lee.

To order the book from the PUBLISHER, please email: taysheart13@hotmail.com

Journey back to Lemuria with Sacred Voyages

Each ‘Ohana was governed by a group of kupuna (elders).

Transformational Voyages — Sat, 15 May 2010 00:26:53 +0000

Each ‘Ohana was governed by a group of kupuna (elders). Age alone did not make one a part of this group. There were many old people who were not.
To become part of the ruling body of the family you had to be accepted by all of the elders. Everything was decided on consensus of opinion. The ruling body varied in size, and always consisted of kahuna (experts) of many kinds.

Excerpted from “Tales of the Night Rainbow” written by Koko Willis & Pali Jae Lee. To order the book from the PUBLISHER, please email: taysheart13@hotmail.com

Journey back to Lemuria with Sacred Voyages