Hawaiians are a prayerful people. Many of the days events are accompanied by prayer and/or chanting. Sunrise, sunset, meals, meetings. Prayer is a reminder that mindful action is the key to one’s maintaining balance in life.
Often chanting is performed to bring a groups mindset together as one to send a powerful message, ask for the presence of the ancestors and beseech their assistance.
When Protect Keopuka Ohana held the three day Vigil for Pu’u Ohau in September 2003, Hawaiian practitioners came together on the hour, every hour day and night for the three days to perform the chants published here. Surrounded by the ancient gravesites of hundreds of these individual’s own ancestors, they chanted for the kupuna to rise and join with them in prayer. The dark starlit nights were swept with occasional wind and rain as the spirit energy gained momentum hour by hour, prayer by prayer. And their prayers were answered as the kupuna rose and let themselves be heard to their devoted children.
Kealohapauole, A Love That Never Ends 