Hawaiian Turtle Medicine
After Halau o ke Kia’i’s big blow-out at Kuhio Beach on the last full moon day (20 Apr 08), I knew that they weren’t going to make it back the next week. No way. If I had been one of those little girls, I would have instantaneously become a brilliant expert on the subject of how to be MIA from everything and everybody, but hula practice in particular, until my elders figured out how to re-connect with their planet.
As it was, I myself spent the best part of a week jumping in salt water and consulting with honu (sea turtles) about what life on this planet would be, if any human being chose to participate in it, for a change.
But for whatever reason, perhaps because my Taiwanese temple decided that being civilized towards foreign devils might be a nice experiment, for a change, I made it back to Kuhio Beach the following Sunday, and discovered myself being looked at by this mea nani nui loa (great big beautiful thing):
(click image to enlarge)
This lady’s Halau is literally named for the Eye of the Turtle (Maka Honu). I know that because she told me. The Honu is an Hawaiian Aumakua (Animal Protector Spirit), And I’ve never seen such a clear example of a human being with that Aumakua as this indivudual.
I have Native American Blood, and according to the teachings of that blood, you know that an animal has become your protector when it establishes eye contact with you, either in a dream, or in the “real world,” three times in a row. Different Honu have been looking at me for years. If I ever get depressed, all I have to do is go to the water, and Honu stick their heads up and look at me. In fact, if I’m running any kind of emotional energy at all, good or bad, they always stick their heads up and check me out. Always. Apparently the Kumu of this Halau also has had the same kind of experience, and so she named her Halau after the Eye of the Honu.
(click image to enlarge)
A few more shots of this wonderful Halau can be found in my Halau Hula o na Maka Honu Album.
Namu Amida Butsu,
Xing Ping
