E Kū Makani: a “Life History” Story of Kahuna Lāʻau
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
E KŪ MAKANI: A “LIFE HISTORY” STORY OF KAHUNA LĀʻAU LAPAʻAU LEVON OHAI A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI AT MĀNOA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN HAWAIIAN STUDIES DECEMBER 2012 By Keoki Kīkaha Pai Baclayon Thesis Committee: Lilikalā Kameʻeleihiwa, Chairperson April A. H. Drexel Craig Howes Keywords: Levon Ohai, lāʻau lapaʻau, kahuna, Hawaiian Medicine, plants © Copyright 2012 by Keoki Baclayon ii For my Kumu Levon Ammon Ohai. E kū makani. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to first say mahalo to Akua for the strength, inspiration and guidance that has led me to the creation of this thesis. I would also like to thank Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies for its fine staff that has always supported the advancement and obtaining of knowledge. I especially want to thank Aunty Marvlee Naukana-Gilding and Shanye “Kauwela” Valeho-Novikoff for both of your kōkua in my research. To my committee, Lilikalā Kameʻeleihiwa, April A.H. Drexel, and Craig Howes words cannot express how thankful I am for your patience, encouragement and expertise. ʻIke ʻia nō ka loea i ke kuahu. Respectfully, I would like to thank my mentor, friend and kumu, Levon Ohai, who I remember was surprised when I first asked to write my thesis about him. He was always willing to spend countless hours sharing his manaʻo and ʻike of lāʻau lapaʻau until his unexpected passing in March 2012. I could not have asked for a greater Kumu. To his wife Jackie who took the time to answer questions and share gaps of information after Levon’s passing and to Levon’s brother Nephi for his kindness and generosity that has brought greater understanding. Mahalo to my fellow practitioners and friends, who have helped recollect experiences, gather knowledge, dates and times after his passing. Most especially, I would like to thank the strength behind everything I do, my wife and children. To you, I am eternally grateful for your love and support. iv ABSTRACT The purpose of this thesis is to recount a “life history” of the late Levon Ammon Ohai by focusing on his teachings and narrative interviews: Levon was a retired DOE teacher from Kauaʻi and also a lāʻau lapaʻau instructor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. This thesis addresses the issue of a gap in knowledge on Levon Ohai with special attention to the connections of what he believed in and the results of what he did with those beliefs. The product of this endeavor is this thesis which emphasized: the sense of urgency to document the moʻolelo of a kahuna lāʻau lapaʻau; the incongruent value systems he experienced between his lāʻau lapaʻau culture and western institutions; the value of empirical medicine; and his love for Akua. These themes that illuminated themselves in the narratives validated the importance of documenting life histories for future generations. The emergence of this life history research at this time contributes considerably to the field of Hawaiian biographical research. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Acknowledgements...........................................................................................................iii Abstract..............................................................................................................................iv List of Tables.....................................................................................................................ix List of Abbreviations...........................................................................................................x Chapter 1 Ka Pae: The Platform..........................................................................................1 Questions to be Answered.......................................................................................5 Three Areas of Concentration..................................................................................6 Literature Review....................................................................................................8 Nā Hua ʻŌlelo: Life History........................................................................8 Ka ʻImi ʻAna: The Research......................................................................10 He Wehewehe Manaʻo: An Explanation...................................................11 Nā Kumu ʻĒ Aʻe: Other Sources...............................................................18 Methodology..........................................................................................................19 Loina Moʻomeheu Hawaiʻi: Hawaiian Etiquette.......................................19 Nā Kūkā Kamaʻilio/ Wahi: Interviews and Location................................22 Ethnographic Approach.............................................................................22 Data Collection..........................................................................................22 Ethnographic Interviews............................................................................23 Participant Observation..............................................................................23 Free-listing.................................................................................................23 Chapter Headings: The Questions.........................................................................24 Chapter 2 Ka Haʻi ʻAna i Ka Moʻolelo: Telling the Story................................................27 Introduction............................................................................................................27 Kekauaimokuohaikainoa “Great-tūtū Kainoa” .....................................................27 “Great-tūtū lady” Akio Aki (The Greater Healer).................................................33 Tūtū man: Benjamin Ohai......................................................................................36 Fishing with “Dad”—Leo Ohai.............................................................................40 vi Levon Ammon Ohai..............................................................................................49 Chapter 3 Lāʻau Lapaʻau: The Praxis................................................................................55 Akua.......................................................................................................................55 Pule........................................................................................................................56 A Pattern for Pule..................................................................................................58 Pule in the Art of Lāʻau Lapaʻau...........................................................................59 Aloha......................................................................................................................62 Akua Chooses Him................................................................................................63 Character and Behavior in the Practice..................................................................73 Time for Everyone.................................................................................................75 He ʻAno Hana, Ke Koho: The Art of Choosing....................................................76 Chapter 4 Following His Vision........................................................................................82 Introduction............................................................................................................82 His Vision for the Warriors....................................................................................82 Revolutionize Medicine with a Healer in Every Home.........................................83 Perpetuating the Knowledge .................................................................................84 Lāʻau Lapaʻau Certificate......................................................................................87 Nā Papa Lāʻau Lapaʻau: The Hawaiian Medicine Classes....................................92 Levon and the Influence of other Healers in the University..................................96 Graduate Courses.................................................................................................100 From Certification to Licensure...........................................................................102 Chapter 5 Legacy of Healing...........................................................................................109 Ma Ke Kulanui: At the University.......................................................................111 Ka Hoʻi ʻAna: The Returning..............................................................................112 Ka Hoʻomau ʻAna: Carrying On..........................................................................112 Haʻo ʻia: Missed...................................................................................................113 I Mua: Forward....................................................................................................113 Ke Kai Eʻe: The Mounting Sea............................................................................116 Ke Koa: The Warrior...........................................................................................117 Ka Hōʻailona: The Sign.......................................................................................118 E Kū Makani: An Iconic Phrase..........................................................................119 vii ʻAʻaliʻi—A Metaphor for Warriors.....................................................................120 Pā