What are kahuna & how do they differ from kupuna?
Originally, kahuna (there is no ‘s’ in the Hawaiian language; plurals are formed by inserting the article ‘na’ before the noun) were the masters or professors of old Hawaii. Because the spiritual and material dimensions were seen by the ancient culture as so completely inter-related that no separate word exists to distinguish between them, kahuna were also masters at calling on and connecting to Spirit, particularly as related to their professional specialties. Canoe building kahuna would call on the spiritual elements of the trees in selecting their wood, navigational or agricultural kahuna calling on the Spirits of the stars, sea or land for assistance, and so on. Because of this intercession with Spirit, kahuna were considered by early missionaries to be pagan worshipers, with one English translation for kahuna given as ‘priest of a pagan tradition’. In the Hawaii of Long’s day, not surprisingly were his inquiries on ancient spiritual practice met with silence. In post-missionary Ha
