Fundamentals of Hawaiian Mysticism

by Charlotte Berney

Huna is ancient and at the same time magnificently modern.The mystical practice of Kahuna evolved in isolation on the island paradise of Hawaii. The ancient Hawaiians valued words, prayer, their gods, the sacred, the breath, a loving spirit, family ties, the elements of nature, and mana-the vital life force-ideas profound yet elegantly simple. Discovering the concepts of Huna is like finding gemstones in a mountain-a joyous journey!


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Spirituality, Religion

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2000

Reviews

[Carter · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this book on a whim in a quant used bookshop while on vacation so I'd have something to read in transit. I didn't really skim through it, thinking maybe it was anthropological or historical (it was in the world history section of the store so I guess I'm not the only one that miscategorized it). In fact, this book would be right at home among the myriad of neo-pagan books in the new age section.

"Huna" is a form of religious/spiritual practice cringingly developed by a non-Hawaiian white neo-pagan author who did not only develop his own culturally offensive and exploitative religion, but also a whole history to go along with it! He theorized that the Hawaiian people are actually descended from a tribe of Ancient Egyptians (because no new age belief system has validity without the mention of Egypt). He adopts several themes that were popular for the time (1930s) including the concept of selves (id, ego, superego- but of course he gives them special names), coming together in a group to chant around a bonfire (preferably on a beach under the full moon, of course), and the cultivation and use of an energy force (MANA! it can heal, it can find lost objects, it'll get you that promotion, it'll even feed your cat!- Ok maybe that last one was unverified.). Did I mention this information "was solidified" for him in a "dream state" which I can only assume is code for psychedelic trip. Needless to say- I repeatedly found myself wanting to apologize to the Polynesian and Native Hawaiian people while reading this book.

The validity of Hawaiian Mysticism has been repeatedly researched and debunked (though I don't see why you would need more than one glance at the surface). Native Hawaiian historians, professors, and even lomilomi massage therapists have been asked to weigh in. One professor of religious history said it best "By importing Hawaiian ethnicity and revivifying what is perceived to be Hawaii’s religious legacy, New Agers from Europe and the United States...do not need the Hawaiians themselves. They need a myth about them, and so they create it..."

But wait! The cult followers have an answer for these rebuttals (shocker!). Apparently all these experts are lying to retain the secrets of the Hawaiian people and their magical powers. The references in the book are from organizations that Max Long and his followers developed (double shocker!), including one foundational organization he boldly claimed was a "scientific research" group (this gets more cringe by the minute).

If you want some completely inaccurate history with cultish vibes set in the picturesque islands of Hawaii, with a dash of psychedelic fugue state, and a chance to spit in the face of the Hawaiian people, then I've got a book for you. After reading it, I threw this book in the trash where it belongs.

[Kamakana · Rating 2 out of 5]

301213: my mother is hawai'ian, very warm, emotional, loving, once a teacher. my father is Canadian, the same but more intellectual, once and always a scientist. there is some conflict in how to interpret this work, symptomatic of how such work is often 'new age', certainly in many ways contrary to our western technological, scientific, logical, picture of human place in the universe. yet such dominant portrait is ultimately of the universe, not the worlds- even of its provenance- in which we live. this is the first awareness the reader must come to...

whether this is representative of many 'new age' ideological portrayals of 'alternate', that is, non-western, ways of living, I do not know. have not read enough such works. but in this insistent metaphysics of the spiritual world of 'huna', this world of hawai'ian thought, there are some themes and words seem to have heard before. themes: three levels of self, basic, middle, high, which each are different ways of being human all in one self, importance of breathing, usefulness of meditation, powers of amulets, chanting, colours, efficacy of prayer, validity of anecdotal examples. words: aura, energy, duality, vibration, blocks, mana, names...

so, the first sections are intriguing, though must mention my knowledge of these spiritual 'worlds' is almost all through Buddhism. that there is no one to pray to, no one to insist true, no superstructure of sins, heaven, hell, seems entirely reasonable. the long 'huna for everyday' part is less so. this is when certain sounds or places or substances or colours are significant and useful, this is when 'this happened to one woman, thus...' is evidence, this is when faith overcomes any pesky 'confirmation bias' and doubts on 'coincidence equals causality'...

this work in total has made me think- though less convinced of the reality of this mysticism that seems unmystical- mostly on how this is different from the philosophy and Buddhism read. this is kind of 'spiritual self-help' with a Polynesian angle. something to read on. well, have now read on, but not enough to say huna is more philosophy than cultural appropriation, not very impressed by those other books- which is why did not finish them or rate them on GR...

http://www.michaelkamakana.com/favour...

[Birrell Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad as an introduction to Huna, the American-Hawaiian hybrid. So many connections of popular magic go through Huna ("cords" "higher and lower selves") from an to all sort of other manifestations, that Huna is a sort of bazaar. And fun.

[Diane Blastic · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was fantastic for anyone interested in healing, specifically the Hawaiian healing called HUNA.

[A.J. Llewellyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my go-to books and the mos accurate book on Hawaiian religion and magic. Explains things very well and provides tools to work with.