Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

Hawaiians invite
all to share in
Waikiki healing

The 'no-politics' ceremony tonight
will seek forgiveness
and unity

By Lori Tighe
Star-Bulletin

When Waikiki construction crews recently dug up Hawaiian ancestral bones, Kamealoha Smith experienced an ache in his stomach and a pull on his heart.

"People of the earth must feel real sore because of the construction," the 35-year-old said. "We have a grave reverence to our ancestors."

He believed that the only solution to kaumaha, which means "heaviness" or something disturbing your insides, is to pray for forgiveness and that good will come of it.

Smith and other Hawaiians have planned a healing ceremony from sunset today at Waikiki to sunrise. The public is invited.

"To me, this is the only thing I can do," said Smith, a hospitality instructor who teaches a program called "Interpret Hawaii" at Kapiolani Community College.

The ceremony will be a "no-alcohol, no-drug, no-negative energy, no-namunamu (grumbling, complaining), no-protest signs, and no-politics event. The emphasis is on spiritual healing and a time to honor our kupuna (ancestors)," according to the news release.

Several hundred people are expected to gather at the Duke Kahanamoku statue at Kuhio Beach Park at 6 p.m. The ceremony will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m.

A different person will lead the pule, or prayers, offered by all participants at the start of every hour until sunrise. They will ask God, ancestral deities and their ancestors for forgiveness for the unearthing of 37 sets of skeletal remains, and to bless the current project. Descendants are encouraged to participate.

Following the prayers, people will share their manao, or thoughts, about healing the ancestral bones, present-day descendants and supporters.

"We feel a big responsibility to the iwi," Smith said, referring to the ancestral remains.

"We appreciate our culture and what our ancestors left us, and we want people to share with us."

Before sunset, a ceremonial cleansing will be done in the ocean, in silence. A chant to remember elders who have died will be said before people leave the ocean and as the sun sets.

Just before sunrise, a chant will greet the sun, urging it to rise. Then there will be a chant calling for all to work together with one thought to achieve positive results.

Participants are asked to come in black kihei or traditional garments, and to bring lauhala mats and blankets for resting between prayers. Everyone is asked to bring Hawaiian food, although eating will be light.

As were many generations before him, Smith said he was raised to respect his elders.

"In the end our elders have the last say in everything," he said. "As much as possible, you try to follow what they ask you to do."