Spiritual Beliefs and Religious Practices of Ancient Hawai‘i

Spiritual Beliefs and Religious Practices of Ancient Hawai‘i
Author: Kathy L. Callahan Ph.D.
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
Total Pages: 178
Release: 2022-02-02
Genre: History
ISBN: 1698710631

The focus of this book is the spiritual/religious life of the indigenous people of Hawai‘i—the Knaka Maoli. Their spiritual principles of mlama ‘ina (caring for the environment), kuleana (individual responsibility), kkua (helping one another), and ‘ohana (family beyond blood ties) enabled the Hawaiians to survive the decimation of their population and colonial attacks upon their government and cultural heritage. Moreover, these ideals passed on into the many immigrant groups that came to the Islands and helped them coalesce into one “multiracial” people. The future promise of Hawai‘i may lie in these ancient principles, for they represent a much-needed idea of working in harmony with the environment and are characterized by respect, tolerance, and understanding of differences. They may represent a new way of looking at sociocultural processes in the hope of solving complex problems of the modern world. This indeed may be the lasting legacy of the Knaka Maoli.

Shinto Shrines

Shinto Shrines
Author: Joseph Cali
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
Total Pages: 330
Release: 2012-11-30
Genre: Travel
ISBN: 0824837754

Of Japan’s two great religious traditions, Shinto is far less known and understood in the West. Although there are a number of books that explain the religion and its philosophy, this work is the first in English to focus on sites where Shinto has been practiced since the dawn of Japanese history. In an extensive introductory section, authors Joseph Cali and John Dougill delve into the fascinating aspects of Shinto, clarifying its relationship with Buddhism as well as its customs, symbolism, and pilgrimage routes. This is followed by a fully illustrated guide to 57 major Shinto shrines throughout Japan, many of which have been designated World Heritage Sites or National Treasures. In each comprehensive entry, the authors highlight important spiritual and physical features of the individual shrines (architecture, design, and art), associated festivals, and enshrined gods. They note the prayers offered and, for travelers, the best times to visit. With over 125 color photographs and 50 detailed illustrations of archetypical Shinto objects and shrines, this volume will enthrall not only those interested in religion but also armchair travelers and visitors to Japan alike. Whether you are planning to visit the actual sites or take a virtual journey, this guide is the perfect companion. Visit Joseph Cali’s Shinto Shrines of Japan: The Blog Guide: http://shintoshrinesofjapanblogguide.blogspot.jp/. Visit John Dougill’s Green Shinto, “dedicated to the promotion of an open, international and environmental Shinto”: http://www.greenshinto.com/wp/.

Ho`omana

Ho`omana
Author: Malcolm Naea Chun
Publisher: CRDG
Total Pages: 51
Release: 2007
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1583510478

Ho'omana examines what happened to Native Hawaiian beliefs from the time the priests ended traditional temple worship in 1819 to the present day controversies over sacred sites and objects. As a former Cultural Affairs Officer for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Malcolm Naea Chun was actively involved in the early initiatives of cultural and historic preservation and knows well of the conflicts and struggles that involve and invoke Hawaiian beliefs. He has written and published several articles on the historical dialogue between traditional religion and Christianity. In Ho'omana, Chun uses primary Native Hawaiian sources to compare pre-contact practices with contemporary beliefs and practices, looking for what has been retained, what has changed, and which current practices should be considered questionable as Native Hawaiian. This book is one of eleven short volumes of the Ka Wana series, which is part of the Pihana Na Mamo Native Hawaiian Education Program.

The Kumulipo

The Kumulipo
Author: Martha Warren Beckwith
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
Total Pages: 284
Release: 2000-07-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9780824807719

The Kumulipo is the sacred creation chant of a family of Hawaiian alii, or ruling chiefs. Composed and transmitted entirely in the oral tradition, its 2000 lines provide an extended genealogy proving the family's divine origin and tracing the family history from the beginning of the world.

Huna

Huna
Author: Serge Kahili King
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 210
Release: 2008-11-18
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 141656800X

The ancient wisdom of Hawai’i has been guarded for centuries—handed down through line of kinship to form the tradition of Huna. Dating back to the time before the first missionary presence arrived in the islands, the tradition of Huna is more than just a philosophy of living—it is intertwined and deeply connected with every aspect of Hawaiian life. Blending ancient Hawaiian wisdom with modern practicality, Serge Kahili King imparts the philosophy behind the beliefs, history, and foundation of Huna. More important, King shows readers how to use Huna philosophy to attain both material and spiritual goals. To those who practice Huna, there is a deep understanding about the true nature of life—and the real meaning of personal power, intention, and belief. Through exploring the seven core principles around which the practice revolves, King passes onto readers a timeless and powerful wisdom.

Fundamentals of Hawaiian Mysticism

Fundamentals of Hawaiian Mysticism
Author: Charlotte Berney
Publisher: Crossing Press
Total Pages: 250
Release: 2012-09-05
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0307815390

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!

Nā Hale Pule

Nā Hale Pule
Author: Robert Benedetto
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
Total Pages: 352
Release: 2024-02-29
Genre: History
ISBN: 082489667X

With historical sketches of some 165 churches that were known to exist in Hawai‘i during the nineteenth century, Nā Hale Pule: Portraits of Native Hawaiian Churches, 1820–1900 is the first comprehensive survey of the Congregational and Presbyterian Churches of Hawai‘i as established by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions and later operated by Ka ‘Ahahui ‘Euanelio o Hawai‘i (The Hawaiian Evangelical Association). While many of these churches were first led by missionary pastors, the ali‘i (hereditary chiefs) founders of the churches together with their membership and congregational leaders were predominately Native Hawaiian. Worship services were soon led by Native Hawaiian pastors and were conducted in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language). This study draws upon the official archives of the churches, English-language newspaper articles, missionary and pastoral correspondence, and a twentieth-century architectural survey. The body of this work includes an island-by-island listing of the names and locations of the Native Hawaiian churches, the pastors who served the congregations, and brief histories of the churches themselves. These portraits tell the stories of the founding of the churches, Christianity’s rise in the islands through the Great Revival years of the 1840s, the devastating impact of foreign diseases that swept through Hawai‘i during the mid-nineteenth century, and the efforts of the churches to maintain their properties and congregations. The book's introduction describes the founding of mother and branch churches, the importance of the lands on which the churches resided, church construction and builders, the struggle for self-support and self-governance, demographic changes that led to the churches’ decline, and a resurgence of Native Hawaiian culture and polytheism that caused understandings of faith and the future to further evolve. Also included are a chronology of Native Hawaiian churches, a robust glossary of Hawaiian theological vocabulary, and meticulous citations. This volume is a companion to Nā Kahu: Portraits of Native Hawaiian Pastors at Home and Abroad, 1820–1900, by Nancy J. Morris and Robert Benedetto, which tells the stories of the lives of Native Hawaiian pastors.

Another World is Possible

Another World is Possible
Author: Dwight N. Hopkins
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 322
Release: 2014-12-18
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1317490452

'Another World is Possible' examines the many peoples who have mobilized religion and spirituality to forge identity. Some claim direct links to indigenous spiritual practices; others have appropriated externally introduced religions, modifying these with indigenous perspectives and practices. The voices of Black people from around the world are presented in essays ranging from the Indian subcontinent, Japan and Australia to Africa, the UK and the USA. From creation narratives to trickster heroes, from the role of spirituality in HIV positive South Africa to its place in mental health and among the poor, spirituality is shown to be essential to the survival of individuals and communities.