How I connect with my 'Aumākua and the world
• "Hawaiian cultural identity book for families"
• "Hawaiian spiritual guide for beginners"
• "what is an ʻaumākua in Hawaiian culture"
• "how to reconnect with Hawaiian ancestry"
In my writings, I hope to accomplish a few things. It’s not only about Hawaiians; I truly believe that the things I have learned over my lifetime can benefit anyone searching for answers connecting with their culture and matters of the spirit and heart.
Today, there are so many questions, and mankind seems to be taking a turn toward the worse. I know that it may seem hopeless, what with younger folks struggling to make ends meet, and elderly folks barely getting by, where do we turn?
For me, it is to my cultural identity, to my spirit guides, to my Hawaiian ancestry just as you can to your own. A strong connection to our history, to our ancestors (our ‘aumākua) and to our planet (ka honua) and everything in it can help bring us to a certain peace and understanding. The knowing that we are all one, that our spirits are eternal and that we are all part of this creation helps realize our connection to each other. It helps us see that there is more than just the day-to-day stuff.
Here is something that I do in my daily life. I connect with my history, my ancestors, my ‘aumākua. It is central to our Hawaiian culture; always remembering through this simple practice that I am connected; to my ancestors, to my home, to this creation and thereby to all life on the planet.
I talk with my ʻaumākua. I quiet down, I recite a chant, an ‘oli. Some may call it prayer. I call it tuning in. It helps me to focus.
‘Aumākua mai, ʻAumākua mai (Come to me my ʻAumākua)
E ho mai ka ‘ike (Grant me the knowledge)
E ho mai ka ikaika (Grant me the strength)
E ho mai ka akamai (Grant me the intelligence)
E ho mai ka maopopo pono (Grant me the understanding)
E ho mai ka ‘ike pāpālua (Grant me the insight)
E ho mai ka mana (Grant me the spiritual strength)
As you can see, it is all about understanding, empathy, the strength to carry through what is pono, correct. Again the seven words come back to me.
Humility (which we find through insight and intelligence),
Empathy (again through insight and understanding, intelligence),
Loyalty (which we gain through honor, knowledge and empathy),
Faith (through understanding and insight),
Fortitude (through strength and mana),
Honor (we gain honor through loyalty, mana and vice versa),
Respect (All of these things teach us respect).
Each of these things can only truly exist with the others. One cannot honor another or oneself without respect or humility. One cannot be truly loyal without respect of others or yourself. One cannot be empathetic without humility and understanding. You get the idea. This is how I connect with my ancestors. This is one way that you can do the same. I’m not saying that you have to chant. I am suggesting to you a way to connect with your eternal spirit through your ancestors; and through them, to the rest of the planet. It is a spiritual connection to all life.
I hope that my book “Light of the ʻAumākua” could be used as a Hawaiian cultural identity book for families; even a spiritual guide for beginners. We can teach not only our children, but help all our ʻohana understand pono; through compassion and Aloha.
Find my books at:
Light of the ʻAumākua - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FXWJ5V52
Stories of Light - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GT1J8J3S
