Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 4, 1 April 2022 — Healing the Lāhui [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Healing the Lāhui

An OHA grant is helping Kahuna Lā'au Lapa'au and Kahu of Moanalua Roddy Akau perpetuate the traditional Hawaiian medical practice of lā'au lapa'au. By Ed Kalama

Kūhu Roddy Akau, ū Kohuna Lū'ūu Lopa'ou, ond HūIūu o Hulueno Executive Director Tina Togod, on site ūt Moonoluo. Sūid Togod, "our project is obut reigniting the culturol soul of o people...money shouldn't limit occess to good heolth ond prosperity." - Photo: Jason Lees

It's one of the main reasons that OHA exists - to protect, preserve and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and the wisdom of our ancestors. Lā'au lapa'au is a traditional medical practice developed by Native Hawaiians. Lā'au translates as vegetation and lapa'au means to treat, heal or cure. The practice involves using native plants, herbs and, most importantly, spirituality to treat ailments and injuries. A $100,000 OHA grant awarded to Hālau O Huluena via the Paeihe American Foundation is helping to assure this 'ike is being passed on to future generations. "Our project is fulfilling the legacy of the late Po'okela Kahuna Lā'au Lapa'au 'Papa' Henry Auwae including Kahuna Lā'au Lapa'au and Kahu of Moanalua Roddy Akau's lineal legacy. It's about the continuity of the stewardship of this knowledge and the preservation and perpetuation of lā'au lapa'au," said Tina Tagad, executive director of Hālau O Huluena. Tagad said OHA's funding is helping establish the foundation for the progam, whieh currently has roughly 50 learners who attend class twice a month in Moanalua's Kamananui Valley. Classes and mālama aina community days are also held at Waikalua Loko I'a in Kāne'ohe with

all instruction provided by Akau. "Our project is about reigniting the cultural soul of a people. It's done with the idea that money shouldn't limit access to good heahh and prosperity. It's the teaching, healing and perpetuation of a cultural practice done through God's work. Lā'au lapa'au is transformational, it's life changing and it changes the pattern of your life," Tagad added. The name Hālau o Huluena has cultural significance. It was during the reign of Kakuhihewa that the schools at Huluena were born. Huluena means "gathering of the feather capes" and refers to the gathering of chiefly people in this area. This was the plaee where the cultural practices of hula, oli, lua, lā'au lapa'au and Hawaiian language were shared. During that time, talented children in mainstream Hawaiian society were chosen to participate in the learning at Huluena. This continued until Huluena was razed in 1906 to build Fort Shafter. The schools were then relocated to Kahohonu or Moanalua Gardens. "My family has been in Moanalua since time immemorial," Akau said. 'As the first inhabitants of the valley, Kahikilaulani and Kamawaelualani, the continuity of stewardship remains unbroken. The previous caretaker was my father, the kuleana was handed down to me and my spiritual journey began." Akau began studying with renowned traditional healer Henry "Papa" Auwae in 1996. Akau said one becomes a master in the art when they take a spiritual vow. "Papa Auwae said no one ean certify you, only Akua ean. This practice is 80% spiritual and 20% lā'au. The vow will eome when it comes, and you will know when it comes," Akau said. Akau said the importance of educating ourselves in

the knowledge of our ancestors cannot be understated. "Every culture has its initiates, to keep the sacred flame burning. In Hawai'i only a few remain. The importance of our ancestors and generational knowledge eannot be described with words; it must be seen through results with divine discernment," he said. "Every culture has its knowledge of medicine. It is within your spirit. Everybody has a knowledge of healing within themselves; this is an opportunity for them to light that light. It's about bringing it to the surface. This practice permeates your ancestry, descendants and kuleana. "Eaeh lā'au has many uses and it is strongly dependent on your intention," said Akau, discussing some of the plants he uses in his work. "The first lā'au I use is kinehi to open the individual up and have them discern. 'Uhaloa is for the upper body including respiratory illness. Ihen SEE HEALINŪ THE LĀHUI ON PAGE 5

"Tbe OHA grants program is part ofa greater movement toward the collective healing of our people. It is a collaboration ofthe restoration ofour eommunity heakh and JifestyJe." -TINA TAGAD

As port of his closs, Kohu Roddy (stonding, third from the right) leods houmōno on ū huoko'i to Komononui Volley in Centrol O'ohu to find and gather Iū'ūu used for medicinol purposes. - Photo: Courtesy

Mamaki is ū Native Hawaiian lō'au that is commonly brewed into tea. It's packed with antioxidants and hos heolth benefits including boosting our immune systems, regulūting blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, cleoning toxins from our blood and more. - Photo: Jason Lees

Hōlou o Hulueno houmōna take o breok during o huoko'i to Kamananui Volley. Kohu Roddy demonstrotes how to identify ond gother specific Iō'ūu, and then shores 'ike with his houmōno obout eaeh plant. - Photo: Courtesy

HEALING THE LĀHUI

Continued from page4 you have pōpolo, whieh I use for myself and for serious illnesses. "It comes down to the spirit of the plant and intention. The purification period is an essential aspect of my work. 1here are protocols I follow throughout the entire process. Discernment and the individual's experience are paramount," he said. Akau said when it comes to healing there is no comparison between lā'au lapa'au and modern medieine, because both provide a service to humanity. He said the biggest challenge to his work is access, pollution and conservation, so a relationship with the Trust for Puhlie Lands and the Department of Forestry and Wildlife is vital to their work. "Everything we do is a spiritual practice - spiritual dignity, spiritual discipline, spiritual currency. It's ancestral - it's genealogy, and it's stewardship. The greatest gift you ean give and receive is to honor your calling," Akau said. Tagad is very thankful to have Kahu Roddy in her life. "There are so many words of wisdom that Kahu shares with us," she said. "I weave these into my daily practice: 'Be that beam of light for yourself and your family.' 'You change, then people around you will

change.' And, 'Master your humility, your forgiveness, discernment, patience, and your prayers. " Regarding their OHA grant award, Tagad said, "The OHA grants program is part of a greater movement toward the collective healing of our people. It is a eollaboration of the restoration of our community heahh and lifestyle. "This initiative provides an opportunity for programs like ours to revitalize and perpetuate cultural practices and stewardship that help our people, our community, and ourselves." ■ To hear reflectlons from the OHA grantees, vlslt: https://kawalola.news/vldeos/ I