Makaluapuna ... Of the dark and the light

Story by Clifford Nae‘ole

Gracing the shores of Honoapi‘ilani (the bays of Pi‘ilani) at the Kapalua Resort is Makaluapuna Point, a place of serenity and
beauty. For centuries the ancients walked this soil, imbuing it with their wisdom and mana.

Today, those who come to Makaluapuna can palpably feel the respect and dignity, wisdom and resourcefulness, beauty and power that are the hallmark of this sacred place. Here we walk in the footsteps of the ancients each and every day. When throngs of people congregate at the point of this wahi pana (sacred site) they see an environment that guidebooks have labeled “Dragon’s Teeth.” Regarding the authentic sense of place that travelers seek, this is a gross misconception.

Visitors gather to view a small peninsula with unusual rock formations: craggy ledges resembling arrow points, their brown hues deepening the blue of the ocean; an island lurking on the horizon; manicured grass and pine tops in the distance, crowning the mauka (mountain) lands with a calming green. Native Hawaiians gather at the point to honor the past, present and future. They honor Pō (the darkness) and ao (the light). None is more important than the other, as each is equal in power and spirituality. Why is Makaluapuna more than just a tourist must see?

There are various locations on each island that are considered to be, like Makaluapuna, leina. Leina serve
as leaping off points between the realms of light and darkness. Another example of a leina on Maui is Pu‘u Keka‘a at Ka‘anapali. Again, a western nickname (Black Rock) fails to represent the reverence and stature with which the Hawaiians regard this place. It, too, is a leina, a vortex that reveals itself to mankind when the time is right. Pō is the realm of darkness where our energies lie in wait until we are born. It is at Pō that our orbs of energy rest, only to open, at the opportune moment, to the vortex that releases us into ‘ao, the essence of light and life. We grow, learn, expend our energy and create our legacy in the light. We collect our mana
(spiritual strength) while in the light, and it remains within our bodies after death. When our energy within the light is depleted on earth, we are ready to return to Pō. Upon our death, our energy now gathers at the point and awaits the setting of the sun and the reopening of the vortex to allow us to transition back to Pō. The setting of the sun is a time to say “aloha,” as in goodbye.
On the other side of the veil, it is also a time to say “aloha,” as in welcome.

Hawaiians may gather there to say their prayers and pay their respects. When their loved ones return, again, from Pō to ao, the prayers of the living are answered and acknowledged. This time, the return from ao is in the form of an ‘Aumakua, a guardian angel in the form of nature. We may grieve and mourn the physical loss of the loved one, but we are also happy. We are blessed with the knowledge that the power of the deceased has now increased exponentially to help all who remain in the light.

Life does not end with death. While alive, we communicate with our family, friends and teachers—those who have given all they could from their experiences and their library of knowledge. Once in the realm of Pō, the power to transcend wisdom and health is increased. Messages are sent to us if we are willing to ask the questions and be patient awaiting answers. And so it is with Makaluapuna; it is a temple of wisdom that allows each of us to communicate and experience epiphanies sent from beyond. ‘Aumakua take many forms: sharks, owls, birds, and other animals. Their appearance, their intention
to provide you with answers, will not always arrive in a physical manifestation. The messages may appear in a cloud
formation, dreams, even in a strong feeling in the na‘au (gut). It may be a leaf that dances for you in the wind. It could be a bird that sits on a branch and peers directly into your eyes. A gust of wind may brush the back of your neck, or a turtle may surface nearby and smile at you. These are appearances—blessings—that hopefully will cause you to smile in recognition. In the world of the Hawaiian, observation by your ancestors is just as important as your recognition of your ancestors. It’s a mighty dance, a balance, of spirituality and self-awareness.

Makaluapuna provides it all. And yes, those that venture to the point will come across a labyrinth. A tidy, recognizable physical image, the labyrinth is also a path to meditation and self-awareness. Walk the labyrinth and you will find yourself reflecting, recalling, repenting, and acting upon your thoughts. Walking into the circle is a commitment, a time to evaluate your wrongdoings. Walking out of the circle is the path to empowering the positive actions that will correct, reverse, avoid and heal past events that have gone awry.

As empowerment takes many forms, it’s essential to note that while the trek to the point is a public access, it’s extremely dangerous to venture forth when large waves and swells are present. It is also prohibited to cross into the golf course fairway, as the Kapalua Resort is strongly committed to the safety of its guests and visitors. The bordering hedge delineates the wahi pana o Honokahua, a cultural and spiritual site unequaled in Hawai‘i. Here in peace lie thousands of Native Hawaiians. Here, in what is considered to be one of Hawai‘i’s oldest and largest pre-contact burial site, ancient echoes waft in the wind and we recognize and honor our ancestors.

Undeniably, there is strong mana here, as Hawaiians believe that a person’s mana is stored in the bones and thus achieves a kind of immortality. Public entry is prohibited unless it is Native Hawaiians conducting the ceremony and protocol, ensuring our ancestors a place to rest in dignity, sanctity and perpetuity.

The following pule (prayer) is recited when
trying to summon your personal guardian
angel for all things good.

E na aumakua mai ka la hiki a ka la ka kau
Guardians from the rising to the setting of the sun
Mai ka ho‘oku‘i a ka halawai
From the zenith to the horizon
Na ‘aumakua ia kahina kua, ia kahina alo
Guardians at my back, in front of me
La ka‘a ‘akau i ka lani
At the right side of the heavens
O hiha i ka lani, ‘0we i ka lani
A whisper in the heavens, a rustling in the sky
Nunulu i ka lani, kaholo i ka lani
A reverberating above, rapidly moving in the sky
Eia ka pulapula ‘oukou ‘o ka honua
Her are the descendants of you, the world
E malama ‘oukou ia makou
Take care of us
E ulu i ka lani
Allow growth in the heavens
E ulu i ka honua
Allow growth upon the world
E ulu is ka pae ‘aina o Hawai‘i
Allow growth upon the islands of Hawai‘i
E ho mai i ka ‘ike
Grant us knowledge
E ho mai i ka ikaika
Grant us strength
E ho mai i ka akamai
Grant us intelligence
E ho mai ka maopopo pono
Grant us the understanding
E ho mai i ke papalua
Grant us the foresight
E ho mai ka mana!
Empower us!