The sacred breath of life, the spirit of our ancestors.

The Hawaiian identity, our unique and precious way of life has been passed on from generation to generation through the ha of our kupuna.  The word “alo-ha” is a combination of two words: alo meaning ones’ front, face, or presence and ha – the sacred breath of life.  It was the custom of our kupuna to exchange ha by pressing noses together and exhale, thus exchanging each others’ ha upon greeting. The ancient Hawaiians knew that breath was the key to good health. The Hawaiian word for breath is ha, but ha has many other meanings. It means exhale. And since the old Hawaiians were deeply aware that without breath there is no life, ha also means life. (Pukui & Elbert) Because ha was so important, breathing was revered and often done with conscious intention. Breath is sacred in part because it carries the words of the pule (prayer). (Pukui, Haertig & Lee) In ancient times, long prayers were chanted on a single breath. The kahuna la’au lapa’au (medical doctors) created herbal remedies and then ha –exhaled – on them to impart mana (spiritual power). (Pukui, Haertig & Lee) In other ceremonies, kahuna held their breath for two hours. (Kepelino) A kupuna (elder teacher) about to die would pass his last bit of wisdom and mana on to his chosen successor by expelling his breath ha into the other’s mouth. (Pukui, Haertig & Lee) In Hawai’i still today, breath is considered sacred. As Tutu Elizabeth Pa Chai says, “Breath is important because when God created man He – ha – breathed him into life.” The sacred breath of life passed on from our ancestors is vibrantly alive in our greatest living treasures and resources: our kupuna still living today.  Within them lies the essence of our Hawaiian identity. This sacred ha is what they desperately want to impart to us before it is too late.  It is this very breath that sustains us through our language, and our cultural values, world view and beliefs. The ha of our ancestors also includes the native intelligence, the talents, skills, and abilities that enabled our ancestors to cross thousands of miles of open ocean without navigational instruments; that same kind of intellectual genius enabled them to thrive and flourish in our island home.  We have a right and a responsibility to ensure that the ha of our ancestors live on in us so that our ‘ohana, our families, can once again live, breathe, move and have our being rooted in our Hawaiian identity. The wealth of knowledge to be imparted by our precious kupuna will nourish our Hawaiian souls; it will be the most precious gift that we have to share with the world.