Kahuna: Exploring the Meaning and Health Benefits Behind Native Hawaiian Healing Practices

Healing practices are an important part of Native Hawaiian culture. Their rich history spans centuries and still exists today. Native Hawaiian medicine focuses on the concept of maintaining balance between the different “selves” within a person. It is practiced by kahunas, or native healers, who use various forms of complementary and alternative medicine. 

What is a kahuna?

The word kahuna means “keeper of the secret.” This “secret” is known as huna, or the ability to heal that is possessed by a kahuna. In Hawaiian culture, kahuna is used to refer to a specialist in a field of expertise, much like how “MD” or “PhD” are used in English. 

Kahunas are commonly thought of as priests or healers. And like any other healthcare provider, kahunas undergo intensive training to earn their titles. This training begins in childhood and can take 15 to 20 years to complete. It involves learning skills and subjects such as:

• Anatomy

• Holistic medicine, including herbs and massage

• Basic surgical procedures

• Sacred prayers

Some examples of kahunas include: 

• Kahuna haihai iwi, who mend broken bones

• Kahuna paaoao, specialists in infant care

• Kahuna lomilomi, physical therapists who are trained in massage

• Kahuna lā‘au lapa‘au, herbalists trained in native healing herbs

The traditional vs. modern meaning of kahuna  

As the “experts of old Hawaii,” kahunas were traditionally trained in religion, psychology, and crafts, along with science. 

Read more like this

Explore these related articles, suggested for readers like you.

Asian American Health Disparities: What to Know, Including 4 Ways Providers Can Help

What Do Different Types of Doctors and Medical Specialists Do?

Why Chair Yoga Benefits People of Every Age and Body Type

8 Litfulo Side Effects and How to Manage Them

View more

Unfortunately, because of tourism and Western influence, the word kahuna has been misunderstood and misused in the present day. For example, the word “kahuna” has become internet slang for “wizard” or “guru” in certain computer programming communities. But it takes many years of specialized training and cultural knowledge to earn the title; simply having knowledge about a certain topic does not make someone a kahuna. 

What are the origins of the modern healing practice of ‘huna’?

As mentioned, huna is “the secret” that kahunas keep. Huna is an understanding that the human psyche can produce healing and spiritual development. Native Hawaiian healers believe that the healing process is sacred, and it is important to keep traditional healing methods hidden from untrained practitioners.

Before Western medicine was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands, huna was the primary form of healing for Native Hawaiians. But in 1905, Native Hawaiian healing practices were officially declared illegal by the U.S. government. If a kahuna was caught practicing, they could face fines and imprisonment. 

Not only was this ruling bad for preserving native traditions, but it also resulted in trauma in the Indigenous community. This intergenerational trauma — which was also brought on by political and economic exploitation by the West — has had lasting effects on the psychological, physical, and social foundations of Native Hawaiian health. 

But, despite everything, huna did not fade into history. The native practice was passed down orally, rather than by the written word, from one generation of kahuna to the next. 

The concept of huna was brought to the attention of non-native Hawaii residents in 1936, when the author Max Freedom Long adopted the word to explain his personal brand of metaphysics. Long stated that he was inspired by kahunas and their medical practices, but his use of the word is not necessarily the same as Native Hawaiians’. 

Today, the word huna is interpreted differently by Native Hawaiians and Long’s followers. And many Native Hawaiians believe that Long’s interpretation of huna is inaccurate and disrespectful to their cultural traditions. 

What are traditional Native Hawaiian beliefs about health and well-being?

Traditional Native Hawaiian healing practices center around the concept of lokahi. This philosophy states that humans, nature, and the gods are all connected. According to Native Hawaiians, it is essential to maintain the harmony of these relationships in order to preserve ho’omana, or the “feeling of wholeness.” 

The concept of huna centers on 10 elements of “the self,” all of which work together to establish well-being. These include:

• Three selves, which contain the high self (aumakua, or superconscious), the middle self (uhane, or conscious), and the low self (unihipili, or subconscious) 

• Three invisible bodies of each self

• Three energy sources

• The physical body 

The main goal of huna is to establish harmony and remove blockages from the 10 elements of the self. Here’s a closer look at the techniques used to achieve this balance. 

Traditional Native Hawaiian healing practices

Traditional Native Hawaiian healing practices combine physical and spiritual healing. Here are four primary forms of care that continue to be used today. 

1. Lomilomi, or massage

This massage technique is meant to improve circulation, structural alignment and range of motion. Lomilomi also acts as a stress reliever and eases tension in the body. Lomilomi is essentially deep-tissue massage that is performed with firm, broad strokes across a person’s forearms, back, and shoulders. Oil is rubbed into the skin to enhance this process. 

2. Ho‘oponopono, or conflict resolution

Ho‘oponopono addresses any disputes and negative energy between a person and the members of their social circle. This includes their friends, lovers, and family members, along with community members. Ho‘oponopono uses breathing techniques and meditation to help a person return to a calmer state of mind. 

3. Lā‘au lapa‘au, or herbalism

Lā‘au lapa‘au uses Native Hawaiian medicinal herbs as part of the healing process. When this practice first began, over 300 different plants and herbs were used by healers. But because of colonization and urbanization, only 30 of these plant species are left. And only 16 of them are readily available for use.

The kahuna lā‘au lapa‘au uses all parts of the plant, from the stems and flowers to the seeds, bark, and resin. 

4. La’au Kahea, or prayer

A large component of Native Hawaiian healing is recognizing that healing occurs because of “a higher power or god, a willing patient and the attempt to bring the patient back into balance or harmony.” Prayers are incorporated into each sector of healing as a result. 

The kahuna lā‘au lapa‘au uses all parts of the plant, from the stems and flowers to the seeds, bark, and resin. 

What does the science say about the effectiveness of traditional Hawaiian healing methods?

There have been some studies on the effectiveness of lā'au lapa‘au as a form of alternative medicine. For instance, some of the botanical remedies used in lā‘au lapa‘au that have been studied for their potential benefits are:

• Aloe vera 

• Kava 

• Ginger

• Noni, also known as Indian mulberry

• Taro

Apart from this, there aren’t many studies specifically on the effectiveness of traditional Hawaiian medicine. But researchers have found that combining traditional Native Hawaiian healing practices and modern methods of healing may be more useful than relying on modern medicine alone. 

For example, one study found that integrating these healing methods may inspire people to be more proactive about their health. 

Kahuna vs. modern medicine in the Native Hawaiian community

After the ban was lifted on using Native Hawaiian healing methods, kahunas were able to practice once again. But challenges around practicing criteria still persisted among the government and independent councils. Today, some traditional Hawaiian healing methods are offered and covered by AlohaCare.

Due to historical cultural trauma, there is still a lot of reluctance among Native Hawaiians to turn to contemporary medicine and healthcare. But it has been shown that when cultural values are respected and centered in healthcare methods, Native Hawaiians are more likely to be open to the benefits of modern medicine. 

However — despite disproportionately higher rates of obesity, cancer mortality, and hypertension — Native Hawaiians face barriers to healthcare access. A huge part of this is not having access to affordable healthcare coverage. 

Health and well-being resources for Hawaiians

Unfortunately, there have historically been many barriers to accessing healthcare for Native Hawaiians. But there are some resources available that incorporate more traditional methods of healing into more contemporary treatment: 

• AlohaCare: As one of Hawaii’s largest insurance providers, AlohaCare has launched a program called Ke Aloha Mau, which offers lomilomi, lā‘au lapa‘au, la’au kahea, and ho‘oponopono to members at no cost. . 

• Papa Ola Lōkahi: This nonprofit offers presentations, workshops, and health education resources around public health, chronic health conditions, and well-being. Their aim is to spread awareness around Native Hawaiian healing practices by working closely with kūpuna (elders) and partnering with community health organizations. 

• Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center: This facility also houses the Native Hawaiian Healing Center, which incorporates the foundational practices of lomilomi, ho‘oponopono, and lā‘au lapa‘au and la’au kahea into its treatment methods. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Jo Chang

Jo Chang has worked as a book reviewer and literary editor. She is interested in raising awareness about reproductive health, gender and health, and socioeconomic barriers to healthcare.

Edited by:

Samvida Patel, MNSP, INHC

Samvida Patel, MNSP, INHC, is a health editor at GoodRx. She is a nutritionist and integrative nutrition health coach with over 8 years of experience in health communications.

Reviewed by:

Sanjai Sinha, MD

Sanjai Sinha, MD, is a board-certified physician with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in internal medicine.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts