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Maui - The Sacred Space that Unfolds Between the Worlds

by David Harel

Maui is a special place. We were taught that the original name for Maui was “Ka ihi ka pa lau (o) maewa” which means "the sacred space that unfolds between the worlds" As you can imagine, there is much depth in the Hawaiian perception of reality and nature. It's a critical mistake to write these ancient people off as 'primitive' or unsophisticated. Far from it, they are formidably profound and so is the land that they live on.

We also learned that Hawaiians traditionally were educated very differently than modern education paradigms. Theirs was an inside-out organic process, or "lau" an 'unfurling'; unfolding like a leaf. They weren't taught by instruction (within a limited frame or box) but by self-discovery. They were encouraged to use "Na'aow" which translates to something like Gut-"Full Translation"-Thinking.

When we arrive to this sacred land of Maui, we need to acknowledge the intelligence of how nature educated these ancient people. And how they learned to live on this land. Even with all the tumultuous history of colonization of the Hawaiian lands, we were still blessed and welcomed whole-heartedly by an elder and a carrier of the sacred knowledge. We were welcomed and made to feel at home with love and the intention of seeing ourselves reflected back through the beauty of the land. We were received like family. Because we are family.

Maui is a land of opportunity for evolution and self-discovery. It has the potential to be a portal for teaching us how to live on this earth in peace and abundance. “Maui is a place where we can learn and be Aloha” (which is Love and recognition of The Spirit within).