Spiritual Healers: The Heartbeat of Hawaiian Culture

On a grassy courtyard twelve miles from Lahaina, just weeks after the deadliest fire in more than a century, kumu hula Hōkūlani Holt gathered about fifty people into a half-circle. Each person held a cup of water — a connection between body, soul, and ʻāina, the Hawaiian concept of land as a living relative. Men and women blew hollowed bamboo pipes called pū ʻohe, producing a deep, trumpetlike sound, and the group began to chant. Traditional Hawaiian ceremonies like this one address a need that many residents say is critical: spiritual healing, a practice that has been revived and advanced across the state in recent decades.

That figure comes from a survey conducted last year, and it signals something broader than a personal preference. For many, these practices are not optional — they are a necessary response to collective trauma, a way to restore balance after events that shake the foundation of a community. This article covers the core traditions of Hawaiian spiritual healing — chant, hula, storytelling, and the relationship with the land — and explains how visitors can engage with them respectfully, without appropriating or diminishing their significance.

Understanding the Landscape of Hawaiian Spiritual Practice

The revival of traditional Hawaiian spirituality is not a recent trend — it’s a reclamation that has been building for decades.

After Christian missionaries established Maui’s first mission in 1823, hula was banned in public places for decades, temples were destroyed, and use of the Hawaiian language withered. But Native Hawaiians never stopped practicing their traditional religion, a faith that includes multiple deities and identifies spirits in entities like the sky and the sea. Its roots stretch back to the Pacific islanders who most likely landed on Hawaii sometime after 1100 A.D.

The 1970s brought a movement known as the “Hawaiian Renaissance,” which revived many traditional practices that had been banned or discouraged. More recently, the protests at Mauna Kea — where scientists planned to build a large telescope on a site considered sacred — became another turning point. For months in 2019, three daily public sessions of chant and hula drew celebrities and activists. Marie Alohalani Brown, a professor of Hawaiian religion at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa who stayed at the site for months, described it as a moment when Hawaiians could practice their culture and feel proud of it, 24/7, for the first time in their lives.

Core Practices: Where Healing Happens

Hawaiian spiritual healing is not a single ritual — it’s a set of interconnected practices, each with its own purpose and protocol.

Oli — The Power of Chant

Oli involves chanting in unison, creating sound vibrations that facilitate meditation and spiritual connection. Keali’i Reichel, a musician and kumu hula born in Lahaina, likened the practice of chant to pulling back an arrow from a bow, poised to shoot. Practitioners must be aware of that power and know where to aim it. After the Maui fires, the group planning ceremonies had to consider which ancestors to address and what to petition them for — including the decision not to call too much rain, which could cause flooding and wash ashes and debris into the ocean. Instead, they urged “just enough to create regenerative growth.”

Hula — Movement as Ceremony

Hula incorporates movement as a form of ceremonial and spiritual joy. It is not simply a dance for entertainment — it is a way of telling stories, honoring deities, and connecting with the land. When you see hula performed in a formal setting, you are watching a practice that was nearly erased by colonial policies. The fact that it is performed publicly today is itself an act of resilience. For a deeper look at how these celebrations have evolved, the article on authentic Hawaiian celebrations and festivals offers useful context.

Mo’olelo and Mele — Storytelling and Song

Mo’olelo is the sharing of ancestral knowledge and legends through community voices, fostering a sense of identity and continuity. Mele uses music and singing as a grounding practice, promoting emotional well-being and expression. These are not passive activities — they are active forms of cultural transmission. The tradition of Hawaiian storytelling and ancestral wisdom is one of the most accessible entry points for visitors who want to understand the deeper layers of the culture.

Practical Planning for Respectful Engagement

If you want to engage with Hawaiian spiritual practices as a visitor, the most important step is understanding what is appropriate and what is not.

When to Visit and What to Expect

There is no single “best time” to witness traditional ceremonies because they are not scheduled for tourists. Major cultural events like the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo (held annually in April) feature hula competitions that are open to the public, but these are performances, not healing ceremonies. If you want to experience something closer to the spiritual practice itself, look for community-led events at cultural centers or malama ʻāina volunteer programs that include oli or mele as part of the work.

How to Show Up

If you are invited to a ceremony — and that invitation should come from a community member, not a tour operator — arrive early, dress modestly, and follow the lead of those who are hosting. Do not record or photograph without explicit permission. Do not participate in chanting or dancing unless invited to do so. The concept of ancient Hawaiian values in modern times is rooted in pilina — the power of relationships — and that means showing respect for the boundaries of the practice.

On the Ground: What to Know Before You Go

Understanding the cultural context makes the difference between a meaningful visit and an unintentionally disrespectful one.

The Role of ʻĀina in Healing

ʻĀina refers to the land and the food we eat, and the belief that giving to the land will ensure it gives back to us. Hawaiian practices involve land conservation and animal stewardship, recognizing that healing the environment is essential to healing ourselves. This is not a metaphor — it is a practical philosophy that shapes how communities respond to disasters, manage resources, and plan for the future. When Michael and I volunteered with a coastal restoration project on Oʻahu, the organizers began the morning with an oli. The kids stood quietly through it, and later Ethan asked why they were singing to the beach. It was a good question, and the answer — that the land is a relative who deserves respect — is one of the most practical things a visitor can understand.

Aloha as a Practice, Not a Slogan

Aloha is not just a word for hello and goodbye. It embodies putting positive, genuine feelings into the world for every individual encountered, and it recognizes the importance of mutual respect. When you hear “aloha” used casually in a hotel lobby or on a souvenir T-shirt, it has been stripped of its deeper meaning. The real practice of aloha requires intentionality — showing up with an open mind, listening more than you speak, and understanding that you are a guest on land that has been cared for by generations of people who never stopped practicing their traditions, even when those traditions were illegal.

Spiritual Healers: Questions Visitors Often Ask

Can I participate in a traditional Hawaiian healing ceremony as a visitor?

Only if you are explicitly invited by a community member or cultural practitioner. Most ceremonies are not open to the public, and those that are — like the gatherings led by Hōkūlani Holt after the Maui fires — are organized in response to specific community needs, not for tourists. If you want to observe, look for public events at cultural centers or luaus that include oli and mele as part of the program.

What is the difference between a kumu hula and a spiritual healer?

A kumu hula is a teacher of hula, but the role goes far beyond choreography. It includes responsibilities like passing down knowledge of specific spiritual lineages and leading ceremonial practices. Many kumu hula, like Keali’i Reichel and Cody Pueo Pata, are also musicians and cultural ambassadors. The term “spiritual healer” is broader and can refer to any practitioner who uses oli, mele, or other traditions to address emotional or communal trauma.

Is it disrespectful to take photos during a ceremony?

Yes, unless you have explicit permission from the person leading the ceremony. Recording or photographing without consent is considered a violation of the sacred space. This is one of the most common mistakes visitors make, and it can cause real harm to the trust between practitioners and the broader community.

Why are some Native Hawaiians critical of Christian influence?

Christian missionaries established Maui’s first mission in 1823, and within decades, hula was banned, temples were destroyed, and the Hawaiian language was suppressed. Many Native Hawaiians see this history as deeply damaging. Marie Alohalani Brown, a professor of Hawaiian religion, put it plainly: “Our religion has been denigrated for centuries. We’ve been called pagans, heathens, ignorant, naïve.” That context matters when you visit historic sites like the banyan tree on Front Street in Lahaina, planted in 1873 to commemorate 50 years of Christianity on the island.

Can children attend ceremonies?

Yes, and they often do. During the ceremonies led by Hōkūlani Holt, mothers held infants who stayed silent through the chanting, and toddlers and teenagers quietly paid close attention. Ceri Zablan, who is 16, said that for many young Hawaiians, the connection between culture, faith, and history has become more powerful in recent years. If you bring children, teach them to sit still and listen — the same expectation applies to adults.

One Final Thought

Keali’i Reichel said that revitalizing Lahaina is “going to take planning, a lot of chanting, a lot of ceremony.” That sentence captures something essential about Hawaiian spiritual healing: it is not a quick fix or a feel-good experience. It is slow, deliberate, and deeply tied to place. The next time you stand on a beach in Hawaii or walk through a forest trail, consider that the land itself has been the subject of prayer — and that those prayers are still being offered, whether you can hear them or not. For more on the stories that shape this relationship, the article on Menehune mysteries and Hawaiian folklore offers a thoughtful look at how myth and history intertwine.

Sources and further reading

Traditional Hawaiian Ceremonies for Spiritual Healing. The New York Times, 2023.

Unlocking the Healing Practices of Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Trauma-Informed Care. Avance Care, 2024.