HO'OPONO,   ISBN:9780967725376

Customer Rating: 

In this small, easy to read book Pali Lee tries to help Hawaiians understand what being Hawaiian really means. Two hundred years ago, disapproving Christians made it illegal to speak Hawaiian, removed all the Hawaiian gods from chants, called the hula evil tried and in general tried to destroy the Hawaiian culture. As a result, Hawaiians took their beliefs underground. In an oral tradition stories are mutated even lost with the death of the ancestors. The earliest accounts were written by Hawaiians who were taught to read and write by missionaries, therefore their vision was clouded by the Christian point of view. I was very excited to find this book and Tales of a Night Rainbow that precedes this effort to unravel a confusing past. I would like to believe this version of Hawaiian history that explains how a generous, fun loving, kind people came to participate in strict class society that called for human sacrifice to war gods and, strict rules enforced by death dealing priests. If you are interested in the genesis of true aloha spirit, read this book.

Linda Ballou, Author of Wai-nani, High Chiefess of Hawaii

Customer Rating: 

*****
This book was an outstanding introduction to Hawaiian culture, told through the eyes of the author. It is a personal book, part memoir, and filled with Hawaiian mo`olelo (stories) that describe the true Hawaiian culture. It is more personal than comprehensive, and does indeed discuss "the Hawaiian way", helping me to understand the intricacies of this complex (and, paradoxically simple, too) and precious way of life, and how and why it has conflicted so with the Euro-American way of living. The author does this through personal stories and gentle explanations, showing more than telling, and helping the reader to appreciate the beauty of an exotic and wonderful culture.

The author discusses the concept of mana, the importance of the `ohana to Hawaiians, `aumakua...and popular misunderstandings as well, including much about huna. It is a beautifully illustrated book with simple black-and-white drawings that add beauty and some personal photos as well. Most importantly, it is a Hawaiian book, done in the Hawaiian way (which is non-linear), including genealogy, and most importantly, stories...it was a treasure to read. It includes a glossary for the many unfamiliar Hawaiian words.

Reading this book felt like a privilege. I feel like the author's culture was being shared with me in a vulnerable and gentle way that gave me so much insight and appreciation for her and for the Hawaiian people.

Highly recommended.
*****

Customer Rating: 

This book not only gives plenty of history of Hawai`i, and Moloka`i specifically, but it teaches you how to live your life as it should be lived. With aloha, with unconditional love. It teaches respect for the `aina, respect for the moana, respect for kupuna, respect for the keiki, respect for ke akua, for all people and all things. And, more importantly, it teaches respect for your own self.

This book shows how to be what we all should aspire to...pono.

Must reading for EVERYONE.

Customer Rating: 

This book helped me to understand more about Hawaiian ancestral roots.
It os writing in a very sweet way.

Customer Rating: 

This new edition of the classic book is simply wonderful. As the editor of the Bishop Museum book on Hawaiian healing and of Hawaiian Massage Lomilomi: Sacred Touch of Aloha, I look first to the lineage of information provided. This book is based on in-depth interviews with members of the Kame'ekua family of the island of Moloka'i. The author worked as a researcher for the Bishop Museum where she first learned of Kaili'ohe Makaweliweli Kame'ekua, the matriarch of the family. Although traditions vary among the people of different islands, and not all Hawaiians will agree with everything in this book, it beautifully recounts the oral history of this family.

The book has 10 chapters: Time Before Time, Mana, 'Ohana, Kahuna, 'Aumakua, Pono, History and Mythology, Huna, Aloha Is, and 'Imua. It begins with one of the most wonderful stories in Hawaiian tradition, the bowl of light. "Every child born has at birth a bowl of perfect Light. If he tends his Light during his life it will grow in strength and he can do many things..." This parable is a precious teaching that gives us a new way to look at life.

Interwoven with the stories from the family are Pali's personal reminiscences of her life in Hawai'i. My favorites are the ones about her husband, Koko Willis. Koko was 100% menehune, as he liked to say, and "coincidentally" a member of the Kame'ekua 'ohana. Indeed, the story of how they met and eventually married is one "coincidence" after another.

This book is especially important for anyone interested in Huna to learn more about authentic Hawaiian traditions.

Readers of this book will experience a delightful journey to old Hawai'i that will give them new perspectives on how to live their lives in balance.