Aloha Daughters of the Goddess,
We are enjoying a rainy February here in the San Francisco Bay Area. If it weren’t for the colder temperatures, I would think I were in Hawai’i as I’ve listened to the rain drops beating on the roof! This is perfect timing for learning more about this Hawaiian Goddess and some customs. Kahuna Pahia taught us that some of the most powerful magick and mana is performed during cloudy times when things are ‘undercover’.
E hele mai and bring your offerings, your breath of life/Ha, and eat of the poi bowl. Many of the things we’ll learn in this ceremony will be essential in preparing for the Hawai’i Pilgrimage happening this September. Please string your flower lei, bring your offerings for the altar and enjoy another festive evening event!
Celebrate Hawaiian Goddess Kihawahine
Mo’o Guardian of the Sacred Waters
Thursday, February 21, 7:30 p.m.
Moon in Libra
Concord Locale/Directions given upon RSVP
$30 one-time exchange/$15 newcomers
Kihawahine played a central role in the creation of everything from the living world itself, to the governmental Kingdom of Hawai’i. Ceremonies for this Goddess took place at the most sacred heiau in the islands. The highest women of state were known to bring offerings to Her at the Hale o Papa, or women’s heiau.
Kihawahine Mokuhinia Kalama‘ula Kalā‘aiheana was the daughter of the powerful sixteenth-century ruling chief of Māui, Pi‘ilani, and his sacred pi‘o wife Lā‘ieloheloheikawai. Kihawahine Herself would leave a decendency along the Maluna line that would later include the ruling Mō‘ī, Kalākaua and his sister Lili‘uokalani. Upon Kalā‘aiheana’s death, Her iwi (bones) were wrapped in kapa and placed in the waters of the royal fishpond at Mokuhinia, Lahaina. A ceremony deifying this high-ranking chiefess transformed Her into the mo‘o goddess Kihawahine. It is said that this terrifying and powerful mo‘o had so many taboo associated with Her it was impossible to name them all. Mo‘o were often guardians of fresh water ponds and Kihawahine’s residence was Mokuhinia i ka Malu‘uluolele (Mokuhinia in the breadfruit shade of Lele). This royal inland-fishpond housed the island residence of Moku‘ula. This home to centuries of ruling chiefs was a piko (center) of traditional religious and political life. (Information above and below from Bishop Museum archives).
Ka Lua o Kiha (the den of Kiha) became the political center of the Hawaiian Kingdom and an important pu‘uhonua (place of refuge) for the son of Kamehameha I, Kauikeaouli. Kamehameha III often sought to escape the rising pressures of change that assaulted him at the busy trading centers and would retreat nearby, beyond the kapu gate of his royal residence at Moku‘ula. He would build a mausoleum at this sacred place where he would bring the bodies of his mother Ke‘ōpūolani, his beloved sister Nāhi‘ena‘ena, their young baby, and other high aliʻi including Hoapili, Kaheiheimālia, Kekau‘ōnohi and Kaumuali‘i. Kauikeaouli remained here, at Moku‘ula with his loved ones until such a time as affairs of state and the growing economic center of Honolulu was to pull the site of government away from Lahaina around 1845. After Kauikeaouli left Moku‘ula, many of the ali‘i nui followed and the site fell into disrepair. The mauka (upland) diversion of water for sugar cultivation meant that waters that had fed the pond dried up and this former royal fishpond became a reed-infested swamp. Around 1914, the Territory of Hawai‘i filled in the pond and created a park that would later host softball games. Heeding the call of an 1863 oli published in the Hawaiian-language newspaper, to “Hoi ka nani i Mokuula” (Return the glory to Moku‘ula) a group led by Kumu Akoni Akana has embarked on a more than twenty year mission to see the glory of Moku‘ula re-awakened.
On my recent August pilgrimage, I learned of Kumu Akoni’s untimely death and the Moku’ula site is still in need of help. On the Daughters of the Goddess O’ahu Pilgrimage of 2010, Kahuna Happy Pahia named our group as the reverse missionaries, righting the wrongs and making pono/right the atrocities that have been done to Hawai’i Nei and Her people. I meet so many people that share their love of Hawai’i and how often they have visited there. Kahuna Pahia gave us this charge and many of us have become stewards of this mission. And Will you? If you are a lover of Hawai’i, please bring your Courage and Strength to this altar and any images of Mo’o/geckos, and wear red and/or gold.
Be prepared to witness or receive this charge of the Native Hawaiians/Kanaka Maoli and stand in solidarity. Hoi ka Nani i Moku’ula ….. Return the Glory to Moku’ula!
Please see our participation page for more information on attending our ceremonies.
