| You are chosen to be a kahuna by others at an
early age. You might not be aware of it except that your
great-grandfather might have talked to you about many things
when you were a child. Stories, chants, and ceremonies
about the mysteries of the past, all in privacy, not to be
talked about with others. That is what happened to
Lanakila some 60 years ago. Imagine a little boy with bright blue eyes looking up into
the brown eyes of his great-grandfather. "You are the
one I've been waiting for ---". Great-grandfather
Kehauleo Waiwaiole passed to this little boy all of the Hawaiian
lore he had been storing up for just such a one. Lanakila
spent as much time as he possibly could at his
great-grandfather's taro farm in Kalihiuka. Great-grandfather
did not encourage conversation, but poured out his knowledge,
and Lanakila, obedient and respectful soaked it up like a
sponge.
With his great-grandfather, he visited many Hawaiian men of
importance who accepted him because he was Kehauleo's grandson
and who also, informally, became his teachers. Kilipaki
Kanaele, Solomona Naea of Kalihi, Oahu and most importantly,
Uncle Joe Hala'ole of Kaimuki, a very notable kuma hula, who
became his first hula teacher. "As the twig is bent, so
grows the tree" applies very well to this story because the
little twig that was Lanakila was set in its direction well
before he was 10 years old. When Lanakila was 11, his
family moved to California where he was given the usual
conventional education. He graduated from UCLA with a
degree in journalism and a Doctor of Divinity from Brantwood
Forest University in England. In 1940 the old memories of
Hawaii called and he returned to the islands. In the mid-'40's
he began folllowing his path again and had started studying
seriously with a kahuna laau lapa'au on Kauai. He later
became the ardent student of Luka Kinolau, a kahuna lapa'au
(healing prestess). Kahuna Kinolau was a kahuna of
historic stature. Lanakila had known her as a child and
was now to gain much knowledge and be carried far along his
spiritual road by her teaching. In the early 50's he married
and moved to Hilo where he lived in Keokaha. He was by
then very well versed in the Hula Auwana - the secular ancient
hula. He took his troop to Tahiti and over a period of
time spent a total of two years studying dance there and in
other parts of Polynesia. His troop gained a definite
Tahitian flair and became an instant success. Over the
years they traveled to the Orient, throughout Polynesia on an
Inter-cultural exchange, and in 1963 they represented all of
Polynesia in the International Dance Festival in Sarsari,
Sardinia. At the close of the dance festival, they teamed
up with the Ballet Africaine and made a successful tour of
Europe before returning to Oahu. Three years later, Lanakila
came to Kona. This move coincided with the easing of
restrictions on ancient philosophy. It was now possible
for a kahuna to bring their identities and practices into the
open.
 Lanakila
decided to retire from public life in the mid-70's and devote
all of his energy to the work of a kahuna, his halau and the two
or three hundred requests for counseling that come his way every
year. As the spiritual leader of the temple Hale-O-Lono,
he and his halau also perform the temple rites at Hale-O-Keawe,
mail heiau at Pu'uhonua O Honaunau (previously known as City of
Refuge). Uninvited guests should not try to attend these
rites. They are serious and private - the temple is ringed
with husky Hawaiian guards bearing business-like spears.
Kahu Lanakila says he doesn't know if the guards would use them,
but then, they have never been challenged. Lanakila Brandt is
a tall man with a certain reserve that befits his standing as
kahuna and a physical grace that comes from many years of
dance. That he is well educated, many faceted man is
obvious from only a few minutes conversation. Kahu Lanakila,
as he is internationally known, is said to be "the native
Hawaiian mysteries scholar most widely known and respected by
the world 'Huna community". Of the kahu and his
teachings, a leading American commentator wrote: "You are
the bridge to lead us to deeper levels of awareness within
ourselves." A lifetime native religionist and fluent
Hawaiian (dialect) speaker, the kahu served as language,
tradition and spiritual consultant to late 'Huna authors, Max
Freedom Long (SECRET SCIENCE BEHIND MIRACLES) and Leinani
Melville Jones (CHILDREN OF THE RAINBOW). He has
spearheaded the pacesetting Kahanahou Hawaiian Foundation
through over a quarter century's growth and community service.
Kahu Lanakila passed from this life on December 2, 2005.
While he has passed from this life, his influence is still strong. |
