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In Hawai\u02bbi, the islands and people are deeply intertwined with the values, practices, and deep philosophy of the culture. Their rich societal fabric connects generations of Hawaiians from thousands of years ago to modern day. Three foundational principles to understanding Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s worldview are M\u0101lama \u02bb\u0100ina, \u02bbOhana, and Mana. Today, we discuss their indivisible nature to Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s vast cultural history, each timelessly folded inside the people and spirit of the Hawaiian islands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In Hawai\u02bbi, the land is not simply considered as a resource or place, but a living relative. Therefore, M\u0101lama \u02bb\u0100ina, which literally translates to \u201ccare for the land\u201d takes on a whole new level of safe-keeping and responsibility endowed to every person on the island. This entails that the people, land, and ocean are intrinsically bound together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Encapsulating the attitude towards the land is the phrase \u201cHe ali\u02bbi ka \u02bb\u0101ina; he kauw\u0101 ke kanaka\u201d, which means \u201cThe land is chief; man its servant\u201d. Before Hawai\u02bbi was contacted and colonized by the British, Hawaiians maintained a symbiotic relationship with the island. Hawaiians carefully tended to the \u02bb\u0101ina, and in return, the \u02bb\u0101ina fed and took care of them. A deep bond of respect for the land has been strongly upheld for thousands of years.<\/span><\/p>\n Persisting into the modern era, M\u0101lama \u02bb\u0100ina retains its original meaning while also absorbing ideals of what it means to be sustainable today. This entails the restoration of native ecosystems, community based stewardship, and respect for the environment in specific regard to the modern ecological dangers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n M\u0101lama \u02bb\u0100ina reminds us that our survival is absolutely dependent on the health of the land and the sea. We must exist within nature, we are not above it. Thus, understanding this relationship guides our decisions in ethical tourism, consumerism, giving back to the environment, and preventing further harm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Whenever you may dive into a reef, hike a towering ridge, or witness a rushing stream, you are encountering the living \u02bb\u0101ina. These experiences are the same that generations passed have experienced, directly influencing the culture, values, and relation to the islands of today. Whenever visiting Hawai\u02bbi, perhaps by attending our <\/span>O\u02bbahu luau<\/span><\/a>, it is paramount that you enter the land with a deep responsibility for care. Amidst rampant harmful forces that flourish today, M\u0101lama \u02bb\u0100ina is more than a sentiment, but a vital fight for preservation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Spirit \u02bbOhana: Family Values in Hawaiian Culture<\/span><\/p>\n Hawaiian culture extends\u00a0 \u02bbohana, or family, far beyond one’s nuclear relatives. This concept reaches outward to extended relatives, friends, neighbors, community, and ancestors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With \u02bbohana, there is a collective responsibility in decision making. Just as much as you are an individual, you are an extension of your community. Furthermore, since everyone inside a community is connected, there is a duty of care that all must carry and all are entitled to. Hurt is mutual, triumph is shared, and no action is singular. In Hawaiian culture, everyone is supported and protected like family.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hawaiian culture reflects \u02bbohana through a continued effort to be together. This is actualized in gatherings, hula shows, and communal celebrations. For example, our <\/span>Waik\u012bk\u012b hula show<\/span><\/a> transcends performance into the storytelling of lineage, community, and belonging.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When you walk through the islands, make sure to chat with a local, listen to stories from the k\u016bpuna (elders), or immerse yourself in the community of Hawai\u02bbi. In your trip, getting a sense of Hawaiians\u2019 connection to the island, people, and traditions is authentic, powerful, and definitely something a foreigner could learn from. More than a souvenir, you can take home the idea of a community with care at its core.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Mana is the life-energy that flows through Hawai\u02bbi. Meaning \u201cpower\u201d, \u201cspiritual energy\u201d, or \u201clife force\u201d, this is the energy present in people, places, things, and even words. Mana might not be something a foreigner instantly understands because it is more felt than seen.<\/span><\/p>\n You might be wondering, \u201cwhat has mana?\u201d. Well, everything! However, not all amounts of mana are equal. If you hear someone say \u201cthis place has strong mana\u201d, that means the area is sacred, powerful, or deeply moving. Likewise, ancient Hawaiians believed that chiefs, volcanoes, sacred valleys, etc. had strong mana. But mana flows through all and can be affected by an individual\u2019s actions. Living with pono (righteousness) and respect can \u201cincrease\u201d your mana while wrongdoing can diminish your mana. Although, there is no numerical value for mana, it is a widely understood, and felt, concept in Hawaiian culture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Drawing from the concept of \u02bbohana, mana is not an individualistic experience. Because the community, people, and natural landscape of Hawai\u02bbi are all connected, Mana runs through the community, land, and water of Hawai\u02bbi. This challenges the idea of rugged individualism in recognizing that any personal action holds widespread, spiritual repercussions. Even more, mana influences our care for the environment. Just as M\u0101lama \u02bb\u0100ina presents a symbiotic, deeply respectful relationship to the land, mana teaches us that in treating the world around us with integrity and respect, we create a spirited, better environment for ourselves and community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When experiencing mana, even if you do not \u201cfeel\u201d it yet, you should walk quietly and with respect in sacred places in Hawai\u02bbi, especially places like Volcano National Park and Waipi\u2019o Valley. Try experiencing a <\/span>Waik\u012bk\u012b hula show<\/span><\/a> at our <\/span>Waik\u012bk\u012b beach luau<\/span><\/a>.<\/span> Through the movement, rhythm, storytelling, and its deep historical roots, this is a wonderful opportunity to better understand the mighty influence of mana as the dancers channel ancestral energy, honoring both lineage and place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nM\u0101lama \u02bb\u0100ina: The Hawaiian Way of Caring for the Land<\/span><\/h3>\n
The Concept of Mana<\/span><\/h3>\n