Last week, Angie and I watched part of the International Festival of Canoes in Lahaina.
We missed most of the event, but we did get to look at some of the canoes and watch part of the post-festival entertainment.
At one point the host, Wilmont Kahai'ali'i, said hello to all of the whites in the audience and then went on to explain the word ha'oli.
The popular meaning of the word ha'oli is 'white person' or 'foreigner' and it is occasionally used as a racial slur in the Hawaiian islands.
Wilmont, in a most passionate manner, explained the 'real' meaning of the word. 'Ole traditionally means breath, while ha traditionally means without - so, ha'ole means without breath. A lot of people know that.
What is not always known, however, is the reason Hawaiians called white people ha'ole.
Well, Wilmont, explained, the traditional Hawaiian greeting included pressing foreheads together and then 'sharing breath'. This ritual exchanges the energies of two people.
Wilmont demonstrated this act with a woman from the audience. I wasn't quick enough to get a photo, so I captured this in the ink drawing above, a day later.
Press your forehead and nose together with someone you would like to exchange energy with, and breath deeply. Try it.
It's quite a feeling and quite a sight.
It's quite a feeling and quite a sight.
When the first white people showed up in the Hawaiian islands, the locals hoped to exchage 'ole, but the whites extended their palms for a handshake - creating a distance that could not be breached. Hence, ha'ole.
The point of Wilmont's demonstration was that the term ha'ole has nothing to do with white, brown, or black. If you breathe in the essence of your fellow man, you are not ha'ole. If you do not breathe in the essence of your fellow man, you are most assuredly ha'ole.
In facilitation, we often call this being present.
But I like 'ole.
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