Event Description

Ka Po`e Kahiko, (the Hawaiians of Old), created a worldview that linked all things in a vast cosmic metaphysical structure: lokahi. This metaphysical ‘grid,’ that permeated the ancients’ world physically, mentally, and spiritually, contained ‘links,’ the connections that brought all things into lokahi, a Hawaiian spiritual unity and balance. The incomparable Hawaiian author and teacher, Mary Kawena Puku`i, characterized these connections as arising “…out of sensory-emotional-mental experiences.” These human experiences formed connections between Ka Po`e Kahiko, the deities, and the kino lau, the body forms of those deities seen in every part of the Hawaiian environment. Even today, many of those long Hawaiian names given to kanaka children continue to illustrate ‘connecting’ the Hawaiian human to nature.

There are a number of mystical concepts that are related to this spiritual unity and balance. Lehua Lopez will discuss two of these critical concepts in the context of illuminating how lokahi functions in maintaining unity and balance. She will also discuss the lokahi relationships that are developed by contemporary Hawaiians who feel ‘pulled’ to Kilauea, or see an owl during stressful times, or dream repeatedly about a particular person or place. Mrs. Puku`i explained: “The subjective relationships that dominate the Polynesian psyche are all with nature, in its totality, and all its parts separately apprehended and sensed as personal.” These “personal relationships,” born out of experiences both tangible and intangible, are the records of who we are, as Hawaiians, and what we want to bequeath to our mo`opuna, our grandchildren.