Huna
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Huna is a Hawaiian word first used by Max Freedom Long in 1936 to describe what he called “the secret science behind the miracles” that ancient Hawaiian kahuna (experts) performed.
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[edit] Huna Organizations
Long founded Huna Research Associates in 1945, and the Huna Fellowship and the Huna Church are offshoots. It is a not-for-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of IRS Code. According to the Huna Fellowship International website, [1] “Huna (tm) is an internationally registered trademark of Huna Research, Inc., the organization which coordinates the teaching, research, and practice” of the work of Max Freedom Long (1890-1971). The current President is James Vinson Wingo, DD. The organization has an annual “World Huna” conference. There is no information readily available on the number of members.
Other Huna organizations include:
The Huna Ohana [2], Huna Heiau Church [3], Huna Life International Church of James Venable Alexander [4], and Aloha International of Serge Kahili King [5].
[edit] Principles and Beliefs of Huna
Long wrote that the key to Huna is the concept of the Three Selves, the low self, middle self and higher self, or subconscious, conscious and super-conscious, which he called the 'unihipili, the 'uhane and the 'aumakua. Other Huna teachers also refer to the Three Selves but give them different names.
Serge King has articulated 7 principles of Huna:
1. The world is what you think it is. 2. There are no limits. 3. Energy flows where attention goes. 4. Now is the moment of power. 5. To love is to be happy with (someone or something). 6. All power comes from within. 7. Effectiveness is the measure of truth.
One of the primary themes in Long’s books is that the kahuna were not unique to Hawai’i. They were the Hawaiian version of an esoteric priesthood that was also found in ancient Egypt. Indian yogis, Christ and Buddha were adepts in these universal principles. These beliefs are similar to other New Thought philosophies of the same era, including Unity Church and Religious Science. In fact, Long recommended reading Unity’s Daily Word in his Secret Science book.
In some ways, he took New Thought ideas and gave them Hawaiian names.
[edit] Controversy about Huna
The use of Hawaiian words to describe universal principles has raised controversy among those who love the Native Hawaiian culture. Hawaiian culture has been greatly influenced by various Western and Eastern philosophies, so that today it is difficult to know what is traditional. Many Hawaiians and their allies are working to preserve what is traditional Hawaiian to maintain a connection to their past and to their ancestors.
Various Native Hawaiians have various perspectives on how much, if any, of Huna is authentic Hawaiian. Some say it is not, others are Huna teachers. King's weekly broadcast is on NATV Olelo 53 which broadcasts only approved programming by and about indigenous cultures. Neither Long nor King are ethnic Hawaiian.
Long's use of Hawaiian words is based on his understanding of the English translation of Hawaiian words in a dictionary compiled by a missionary in 1865 – when kahuna practices were illegal. None of the accepted Hawaiian sources - Malo, Kamakau, I'i, Kepelino - use the word Huna for a tradition of esoteric learning. According to the standard Pukui and Elbert Hawaiian dictionary, the Hawaiian words 'unihipili, 'uhane and 'aumakua do not mean subconscious, conscious and super-conscious. 'Unihipili are the spirits of deceased persons, 'uhane is a soul, spirit or ghost, and 'aumakua are family or personal gods, deified ancestors who might assume the shape of animals.
In the Hawaiian language, the term kahuna is used for any professional or learned person. Kahuna include experts in diagnosing illness, herbal medicine, canoe building, temple building, agriculture, and more.
[edit] References
for Huna
- Max Freedom Long: Introduction to Huna (Esoteric Publications, 1945), The Secret Science Behind Miracles (Kosman Press, 1948), Growing into the Light (DeVorss, 1955), Huna Code in Religion (DeVorss, 1965)
- Serge Kahili King, Instant Healing (Renaissance Books, 2000)
for Hawaiian traditions
- Pukui & Elbert, Hawaiian Dictionary (University of Hawaii, 1986)
- Jensen & Jensen, Daughters of Haumea (Pueo Press, 2005)
- June Gutmanis, Kahuna La'au Lapa'au: Hawaiian Herbal Medicine (Island Heritage, 1976)
- David Malo, Hawaiian Antiquities (Bishop Museum, 1951)
- Samuel Kamakau, The People of Old (Bishop Museum, 1991)
- Martha Beckwith, Kepelino's Traditions of Hawaii (Bishop Museum, 1932)
- E. S. Craighill Handy, Polynesian Religion (Kraus Reprint, 1971)
- Makana Risser Chai, Na Mo'olelo Lomilomi: Traditions of Hawaiian Massage & Healing (Bishop Museum, 2005)
