As mild as our winter is here in sunny Queensland it is still nice to have a break from the crisp mornings and nights and follow the sun to some exotic destination. With friends heading north to paradises like Bali, the Greek Islands and other glorious locations I began to reflect on the memorable holidays I’ve had over the years. My favourite place is Hawaii and I have been drawn there a number of times. I was lucky enough to live there for a short period of time during which I was offered a job and sponsorship dependant on my return within a few months. It didn’t work out but my love for the place has never waned.
I have noticed that when I talk about Hawaii I use words such as drawn to, magical and enchanting. So what is it that sets Hawaii apart from the other gorgeous places I have visited? Well the islands are all so different in landscape and development; all have their own unique beauty and offer a plethora of different experiences and activities. The climate is balmy and fantastic most of the year on the coast but cooler in the mountains. Although most of the beaches are not a patch on our Aussie fine white sandy beaches, Hawaii does boast black sand, red sand and green sandy beaches. Incredible but true.
Hawaii’s beauty has drawn numerous famous people to her shores over time. Mark Twain actually referred to the Hawaiian Islands as “the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean.” Over and above all of this, it is the Hawaiian people that infuse the magic into the Hawaiian experience that keeps drawing me back. I firmly believe that those with Hawaiian ancestry carry a happiness gene.
Hawaiians are endowed with a wisdom that has been passed down through chants for 812 generations, yes; wait for it, 26,000 years, paralleling Aboriginal Dreamtime which dates back 30,000 years. As legend would have it the link between heaven and earth is the rainbow and Hawaiians are referred to in these ancient chants as “the children of the rainbow”.
In his book The Secrets and Mysteries of Hawaii, Pila a teacher of Huna wisdom (the God force that permeates all life) explores the Hawaiian language. The insights are truly amazing and tell us much about the Hawaiians’ attitudes and beliefs. Bear in mind the language has been handed down, virtually unchanged for over 26,000 years, which helps explain why there seems to be an intrinsic joy, compassion and innocence in the true Hawaiian psyche.
The Hawaiian language contains no past or future tense. There is only NOW in the Hawaiian language.
Hawaii translated means: I live within the wellspring of the life force of creation that is within me, the all that I behold is paradise.
Aloha does not mean goodbye. There is no such thing in the Hawaiian language. Translated aloha means: to stand in the presence of the breath, spirit, light and to acknowledge and recognise all this in another.
Haole, which I always thought meant non Hawaiian actually translated means: one without the connection to the breath of life. (No understanding of a universal oneness among other things).
There are numerous examples such as these that illustrate that the Hawaiian’s belief in a spiritual oneness and why Hawaiian wisdom places so much emphasis on the breath. The ancient chants passed down for generations tell us that we are made of a special energy force of light and that we are perfect. They speak of a “spiral” within that holds all memory and how we can access this information through the breath. Pila points out that if you consider the fact that one spiral of DNA contains more knowledge than all the libraries in the world, how we breathe then takes on new meaning!
A practitioner of Huna is called a Kahuna. A Kahuna uses the breath to elevate the body’s vibration, uses tone to alter the body’s energy field and mind to visualise and materialise. Huna views symptoms of illness as a blockage of life force, “a knot in one’s joy” according to Pila. Huna contends that there is a blueprint for perfect health within each individual and therefore anything can be rectified. Modern science also contends “that the cells of the body were designed to be immortal and when properly oxygenated are impervious to disease and infection” according to Pila. This is where we should all take a few big breaths. It would certainly help too if we could develop a Hawaiian attitude.
The children of the rainbow all have a great attitude. They maintain magic and joy in their lives by their zest for life, childlike wonder and imagination. There is no room for knots in their joy! They exude light heartedness, innocence, contentedness and happiness. It’s in their smile and in their eyes.
The children of the rainbow is what sets Hawaii apart for me. Their attitude is infectious and I like to catch what they have whenever I can.
