March 20th, 2024

                              Makahiki: Firewalk and 'Awa

It is that time of year again when all Hunian's are getting ready for Makahiki (Hunian New Year) to mark the Spring equinox. This is a time of year when we have reflected on the past year, and are getting ready to make our intentions for the future. I have found an article explaining this celebration from my lineage

                                                         Awa and the Firewalk
                                                               by Kahuna Lani

What do we really know about this life? Why do we, or why does anything at all exist? Is there a purpose to all this? Is there a God of some sort? Is anything out there?
If so, then is it aware? Is it aware of you? Does it accept you, embrace you, or reject you? What do you really know?

There is a religious sacrament, a plant that seeks to be your friend in this question. Unlike the western recreational drugs, it doesn’t give you a buzz or make you high or even try to take you over.

When you take it, it removes pain from your body. Then it brings you closer to God (Io), however you conceive of it. Because of that, you feel safe and somehow centered. Because of that, you are made friendly. It is for that reason that is also became the ceremonial sacrament used in peace conferences between warring parties, etc.

In the meantime, it doesn’t dull the mind, it enhances it.
The religious sacrament is called `awa and has been used in the religious services of the people of Polynesia for over 3,000 years without harm to any sensible person who uses it. And then what?
Then there is the Firewalk.

You enter the firepit of the fire made sentient by the chants of the Kahuna i Ke Umu Ki. Then the fire looks into the heart of each person. It judges them, no one can cross the sentient fire without supernatural help. Fire burns, and the firepit is rapt with fire and heat and flames.

Almost everyone who walks under those conditions makes it across the path of fire without harm.

For many, although not all, it forms one of the most important turning points in their life. It is one of the only true points in their life where they found out something which changed their lives. There is something out there, some people call it God, we call it Io, but it doesn’t need to be called anything, really.
And then, they know, really know, without belief or faith needed, that they are accepted.`awa.
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Once each year the Huna Heiau Canada gathers together at the Celebration of Makahiki, Huna Heiau Canada's New Year, on or about the day of the Vernal Equinox. The Dawn Greeting Ceremony is done. Then later, they gather to share the religious sacrament, `awa in formal ceremony. After that, the Kahuna i Ke Umu Ki, the priests of the sentient fire, chant into the fire of the firepit. And the haumana of Huna walk across the heat of the firepit. After that, those who desire to, take the vows once again to be a Hunian for another year.