My son Andre’ was just here visiting me in Hawai’i. I had not seen him in four years. We have both changed in that time and coming together was like seeing each other through new eyes. It was a special time for us both, as the issues of the past no longer seemed relevant. Andre is one of the bravest men I know. I looked at him as an adult, not a child and one who has come a long way and fought a lot of internal battles. And he is still standing...
One of the most beautiful qualities that he has is that of his tender and compassionate heart. Even while anger issues plagued him, he always held true to his inner spirit. He has visited South Africa and is interested in continuing his humanitarian work there. It is where his greatest strength is and his ‘Aumakua Ancestral Spirits are there to support him.
So during his time here our ‘Aumakua said on the last day that it was time for his naming. When he was born I had not given him a Hawaiian name to honor his lineage. For us the name carries the mana divine energy of the ancestors and speaks of our own qualities.
Here is something I read recently that says it more clearly:
‘Traditional Hawaiians created new names for each child. The names were carefully crafted to contain great meaning and thought. Names were of great importance to Hawaiians. A new child received its name from a parent, grandparent, or other close relative, and the given name was thought to influence the child's mana and spiritual development. Children could be named after relatives, but names were not copied from other families. Surnames did not exist. In 1860 Kamehameha IV signed the Act to Regulate Names. Hawaiians were to take their father's given name as a surname, and all children born henceforth were to receive a Christian, i.e. English, given name. Hawaiian names were transferred into middle names. The law was not repealed until 1967.’
Kalei’iliahi is my middle name and a result of that law. So for Andre’, I proudly gave him French names, after his French father. There is nothing wrong with that, he should be proud of his French ancestry. But at that time I was not yet as deeply connected to my own ancestors, I could not show him how to also be proud of his Hawaiian ancestry. So much of my culture as I grew up was suppressed, unknown, distorted and made fearful. Andre’ therefore did not have a Hawaiian name.
One of the most beautiful qualities that he has is that of his tender and compassionate heart. Even while anger issues plagued him, he always held true to his inner spirit. He has visited South Africa and is interested in continuing his humanitarian work there. It is where his greatest strength is and his ‘Aumakua Ancestral Spirits are there to support him.
So during his time here our ‘Aumakua said on the last day that it was time for his naming. When he was born I had not given him a Hawaiian name to honor his lineage. For us the name carries the mana divine energy of the ancestors and speaks of our own qualities.
Here is something I read recently that says it more clearly:
‘Traditional Hawaiians created new names for each child. The names were carefully crafted to contain great meaning and thought. Names were of great importance to Hawaiians. A new child received its name from a parent, grandparent, or other close relative, and the given name was thought to influence the child's mana and spiritual development. Children could be named after relatives, but names were not copied from other families. Surnames did not exist. In 1860 Kamehameha IV signed the Act to Regulate Names. Hawaiians were to take their father's given name as a surname, and all children born henceforth were to receive a Christian, i.e. English, given name. Hawaiian names were transferred into middle names. The law was not repealed until 1967.’
Kalei’iliahi is my middle name and a result of that law. So for Andre’, I proudly gave him French names, after his French father. There is nothing wrong with that, he should be proud of his French ancestry. But at that time I was not yet as deeply connected to my own ancestors, I could not show him how to also be proud of his Hawaiian ancestry. So much of my culture as I grew up was suppressed, unknown, distorted and made fearful. Andre’ therefore did not have a Hawaiian name.
Fortunately, about that time the Hawaiian people also began to resurrect our pride and culture and language, which were all formerly forbidden after the destruction of our temples and the outlaw of our spiritual practices. Many kahuna went into hiding then, including those from my own lineage. Many died taking the secrets with them, but many also survived and kept the knowledge and tradition and practices alive, so these elders were able to secretly hand it down. And since all of this is genetically given to me as a kahuna and their descendant, I am able to go within and pull forth great wisdom from them. This scenario is not new or unique to the people of Hawai’i nei - we have seen this occur with many indigenous peoples across the world.
My grandmother spoke fluent Hawaiian but was forbidden to teach it to her children, so my mother didn’t learn it. It was not available for me to learn in school, and so later I learned on my own through videos and audios. Today Hawaiian children are proudly given Hawaiian first names and sometimes only Hawaiian names. Today our children have the option to attend schools that teach them their language and their culture. The language is now taught in universities and colleges here in the islands. It is a beautiful thing to see.
I come from a grand lineage and today I have a tattoo on my left hand with 75 dots in a spiral ... each representing my ancestors with me as the 75th generation. I am a proud Hawaiian from royal lineage and a long line of powerful spiritual Kahuna. So from this position as a High Chiefess and High Priestess, I was shown a name for Andre’ on the morning of the day he was to leave.
Here is the written portion of the ceremony I did for his naming under Miracle, my sacred tree:
Naming Ceremony for Andre’ Francois Bourque 3/3/2016
Your ‘Aumakua (Ancestral Spirits), have cared for you and watched you since your birth. They have waited a long time to give you your Inoa ‘Uhane - Spirit Name. They have set this name in lights among the stars so all of the Star Nations would know you. And now, today, it is your time to know this name... and so you will know them, for you are their descendant. You are the reason they exist, you are the result of thousands of years of their prayers.
So on this sacred day at this sacred heiau and under this sacred tree and beside this sacred ancestral altar, we call forth these Ancients who have witnessed your birth as we place upon you the name...
Ke Koa
This name means ‘The Warrior’, but it also has another meaning, as many ancient Hawaiian words do, this is known as kauna or hidden. For you, the hidden meaning is ‘brave’, for the ancient warriors carried in their very being the ability to face their fears and transcend them, making them powerful. Your ‘Aumakua have watched you do this again and again and celebrated your victory each time. They want you to know you are winning the battle of the light! And now you are even more powerful, not only because you carry the mana (divine energy) of your Inoa ‘Uhane (Sacred Name), but also because now you have the strength of the entourage of your Ancestors behind you. That strength is their LOVE, their ALOHA. It is inside you and compassion will be the power of love you use to guide you through any challenge. It is a mighty force.
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I presented KeKoa with a bowl made of koa wood. This wood is endemic to the island of Hawaii, it is rare and special and found nowhere else in the world. The koa is given its name because no matter how many times it has fallen or been taken down, it keeps on growing, it keeps standing back up ... like a brave warrior. There is no other wood in the world possessing the chatoyancy as the koa wood does. Chatoyancy is defined as: varying in color when seen from different light and angles. Truly a wonder. It perfectly embodies his Spirit and it also represents the ‘Bowl of Light’. In our creation story we all come into the world carrying a bowl of light that holds the love and light of the Creator and our Ancestors. This is our true essence, for we are all magnificent.
It is my prayer that KeKoa feels the power of his ‘Aumakua, in and behind him, all the days of his life and that he is able to walk with pride as a Hawaiian Warrior of the Light!
Me ke aloha pumehana... with warmest love, Kahuna Kalei
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