In the lush tropical settings of Hawaii, there exists a knowledge deep and profound, waiting to be unraveled—a system of wisdom that predates most of what we know in the West. The ancient Hawaiians, with their Kahunas or wise men, possessed an intricate understanding of the human psyche, one that has largely been overlooked by western psychology.
The Kahunas knew something that took the West thousands of years to even begin to understand: that our being is not just one consciousness but is a triad of minds. This revelation is at the core of the ancient teachings.
1. The Conscious Mind (Uhane):
Derived from the Hawaiian term ‘Uhane’ meaning “soul” or “spirit”, the Conscious Mind represents the logical, reasoning part of us. It’s the voice in our head, the ‘I’ when we introspect, the face of our conscious decisions and thoughts. However, while we engage with this mind on a daily basis, there are deeper layers of our consciousness waiting to be discovered.
2. The Unconscious Mind (Unihipili):
This part of our mind, termed ‘Unihipili’ by the Kahunas, is a realm filled with emotions, memories, and patterns. As the root words of ‘Unihipili’ suggests—like ‘u’, symbolizing emotions stemming from the heart, and ‘pili’, indicating closeness or attachment—this is the aspect of us that deals with feelings, subconscious patterns, and the more primal side of our nature. It’s the force that maintains bodily functions, from heartbeat to digestion, acting without our conscious awareness. The key to harmonizing with this mind, according to the Kahunas, is to be aware of it and to foster a deep sense of trust.
3. The Higher Conscious Mind (Aumakua):
But there’s a dimension beyond the conscious and unconscious. Daddy Bray, a revered Kahuna, professed that humans are equal parts matter and spirit. This duality suggests another dimension of consciousness: the Higher Conscious Mind or Aumakua. ‘Au’, which signifies a spiritual flame or spirit, and ‘Makua’, meaning parent or sustainer, beautifully encapsulate the essence of Aumakua. It is the part of us connected to the greater universe, our spiritual essence, and our deeper wisdom.
It’s worth noting that while ‘aumakua’ is a term that embraces any parental spirit, including ancestors and deities, ‘Aumakua’, in this context, refers exclusively to the Higher Conscious Mind.
The irony lies in the dismissal of these teachings by missionaries who arrived in Hawaii in 1819. Their perception of the Hawaiians as “heathens” belied the fact that these islanders held secrets of mental health and well-being far more advanced than their contemporaries. The ancient Hawaiians, with their profound psychological understanding, kept mental illnesses at bay, a claim the Western world still struggles with.
It wasn’t until 1970, with Milton Erickson’s groundbreaking work, that Western psychology began to inch closer to what the Kahunas knew millennia ago. Erickson’s comprehension of the Conscious and Unconscious Minds was, in many ways, an echo of the ancient Hawaiian wisdom.
In conclusion, the wisdom of the Kahunas offers us a holistic approach to understanding ourselves. By recognizing and harmonizing the triad of Uhane, Unihipili, and Aumakua, we can aspire for a more balanced and spiritually aligned life, rekindling the flames of ancient wisdom in our modern world.
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