"Hawaiian Shamanism"

[jarandhel]

I'm becoming increasingly worried about the issue of cultural appropriation as it relates to my use of the Huna system. I've never maintained that Huna is an authentically Hawaiian system, but it does make that claim. I really don't have enough evidence either way yet to form my own opinion. I've seen some natives denounce Serge King and Max Long and yet recommend books by Deepak Chopra and charge for their own services (which often sound very similar to what I know of King's practices). I've also seen some natives which seem to support King and Long. I, admittedly, just don't know enough of the mythology and religious traditions of Hawaii to know what is bunk and what is not. I currently use King's version of Huna because the principles it espouses make sense to me and I have seen practical results from it. I'm very open to adjusting my practices as I learn more about the traditions it may be based on, or at least has adopted as a backdrop. To that end, I'm archiving this bookmark as a place to start further seeking:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/pac/index.htm

Comments

[helen99.livejournal.com]

It seems that a lot of writers think they'll gain respect by claiming that their methods are of some native tradition handed down through the mists of time. If the person grew up in Hawaii and spent a lot of verifiable time living in out-of-the way villages (if those even exist any more), then there may be some credibility to that. I'm not sure King and Long ever did that - they may have. Whether they did or not, though, my feeling is that if it works, go ahead and use the energetic form, even if they pulled it out of their hats. If you're uncomfortable with calling it "Hawaiian", or with the use of the term "Huna", my feeling is, refine it and come up with your own version of it that works for you, and then call it something else. If you actually become Contacted by those beings who inhabit that particular energietic path, then they may give you a name to call it.