In ancient times of the ancestors, the sacred sites were treated with reverence and humility. These places possess the spiritual power of the ancestors; but these designated areas were more than what the eye perceives. It tells me who I am, who my extended family is, and it gives me my family history, history of my clan, and the history of the people itself.

I am able to look at a place and tie in events of the past that affect me and my loved ones. It gives me a feeling of stability and belonging to my family, to those living, to those ancestors whose bones have become the land itself, and most of all, to those who are waiting in the future to come into the world of light, as descendents. It gives us a sense of well-being and of acceptance of all who have experienced that sacred place.

The concept of a sacred place merges the importance of place with that of the spiritual union with the material. My Hawaiian culture accepts the spiritual as a dominant factor in life; this value links me to my past and to my future, and is physically located at my sacred sites.

Where once the entire native Hawaiian society paid homage to numerous sacred sites. Now some may give a sacred site hardly a cursory glance, except maybe to build a parking lot on the site. Only when a kanaka maoli (native) gains spiritual wisdom is the ancestral and spiritual sense of place reactivated. Spiritual knowledge and the sacred sites are ancestrally related, thus spiritual strength connects to the ancestral guardians. My guardian knew that the gods created the land and generated life.

The gods infused the earth with their spiritual force. The gravity of that concept was keenly grasped by the ancestors. They knew that the earth’s spiritual essence was focused through the sacred sites. The ancestors honored the earth and life as divine gifts of the gods. Their fishing and farming enterprises always included a spiritual function and focus on a sacred site. Their activities never encouraged land or sea resources overuse because to so would dishonor the gods. “The earth must not be desecrated” is a native value.

The inventory of the sacred places in Hawai’i includes the dwelling places of the gods, the dwelling places of venerable disciples, temples and shrines, as well as selected observation points, cliffs, mounds, mountains, weather phenomena, forests and volcanoes. As my ancestral way of life functions through a hierarchy of gods, practices and lore, the sacred site also is hierarchical. A sacred site favored by a dominant god of a high status disciple is inherently more remarkable than one favored by a lesser god or being.

Though sacred sites are normally associated with geographical areas, this is not always so. For instance Pali Uli, a diving place of much spiritual presence, cannot be found with a map or guide. Pali Uli is discoverable only if one’s mind and soul are ready to receive this sacred site in the uplands of Hilo, Hawai'i.

The ancestors and I believe in a life that integrates the world of the seen and the world of the unseen as complementary parts of a whole. The ancestors and I believe that a theme of balance is necessary for a healthy, natural existence. Both worlds are part of that theme, as are male and female, and day and night. Dualism was evident philosophically and physically in the life of the ancestors. Sacred sites were part of this dualism, thus some sacred sites favor females, some favor males and some are useful to both sexes.

I use the sacred sites in my practice of pono, or righteousness, which results in an increase in my mana. Use of sacred sites is most efficacious when the practitioner is a kanaka maoli (native). Sacred site rituals are usually performed when no invited quests are present; therefore, night and early morning ceremonies are typical. The rituals involve prayers, offerings, and conversations with deities. The rituals are closed because the ignorant often offend and desecrate rather than honor. Yet I have at times seen foreigners, who have only read about the goddess Pele, bring acceptable offerings, such as food and foliage. The difference, of course, lies in individual sensitivity, thoughtfulness and humility. These are qualities needed to fully benefit from any sacred site.

The sacred sites of O’ahu are part of my family connection, culture and values. These places need our protection and deference – not only for their historical significance, but also for their human significance. It is sad to say that two-thirds of the known ancestral sites on O’ahu have already been destroyed, but new interest in saving the remaining sites is growing.

We as Kanaka Maoli, offer to others many of the unique features of our culture, but sharing is not a one-way street. Any resource that is mined and consumed will become depleted if there is no attempt at conservation or replenishment. Overuse by tourists and the general public will result in the physical depletion of our sacred places and subsequently in the spiritual desecration of our sacred sites (Wahipana).

Approach the sacred sites with appropriate sensitivity, thoughtfulness and humility. Those who visit and pay these sites the respect and deference they deserve, whether they are native Hawaiian or not, will benefit from the experience of communing with the ancestors, learning the functions, and absorbing the spiritual power of the sacred site. Study, observe and appreciate, for these sites are part of spiritual wisdom.

Who does the sacred sites serve? They serve those who quest despite the odds - for they are the champions of enlightenment.

With the ancestors permission, I leave you in the love and in the light of the ancestors - the source of life; rejoicing in the power and the peace braided with the cords of patience, revealing the tapestry of aloha.

Sincerely in service,

Hale Makua