The Healer of Hawaii: Ke’oni Hanalei and Pōhala
On Maui, where the spirit of Aloha breathes life all around us, we find healing in many forms. One such path to wellness is Pōhala, a journey we'll explore through the eyes of Ke’oni Hanalei, a steward of ancient Hawaiian healing wisdom.
What is Pōhala?
Pōhala is a Hawaiian concept that can mean to awaken, to return to consciousness, or to rise up. It's ancient knowledge, much older than even the traditional Hawaiian cultures, stretching back before the islands' contact with Tahiti.
In our fast-paced world, where it's easy to feel lost, Pōhala is about reconnection — to ourselves, to each other, and to our spiritual roots. It encourages us to truly understand our emotions so that we can lead lives filled with balance and harmony, radiating the spirit of Aloha, the Hawaiian word for love and compassion.
Ke’oni Hanalei's Role
Ke’oni Hanalei is a Hawaiian healer deeply rooted in ancient pre-Polynesian traditions. His beliefs stem from a profound understanding of human emotions and the natural world. Ke’oni teaches that spores from Hawaiian ferns are linked to our feelings and traits. These ferns guide us toward a path of love and wholeness, the core principles of Aloha. He sees aloha as the most powerful force and at the center of the practice of Pōhala.
Ke’oni’s Path to Healing
Ke’oni's connection to healing began with his grandmother, Kau'ikeonalani, who was a respected medicine woman. As a child, Ke’oni absorbed the sacred knowledge of plants and their restorative abilities from her. It was only when the traditional kapu, or prohibition, on practicing fern medicine was lifted thirteen years after her passing that Ke’oni was able to embrace his ancestral calling. He has since taken it upon himself to share the healing powers of Pōhala and these ancient medicines.
Ke’oni’s Work Today
Today, Ke’oni Hanalei continues to practice and teach fern medicine. He crafts essences from ferns gathered on Maui and Kaua'i, using ancient methods passed down through generations. By offering personal consultations and sharing his ike (knowledge), Ke’oni helps others awaken to the beauty around them and within themselves, teaching how to walk a path of healing that honors the deepest roots of Hawaiian tradition.
Ke’oni Hanalei's life and work embody the essence of Pōhala, drawing on the powerful connection between our emotions and nature's gifts. His mission is to help others live with the principles of Aloha Mā, meaning self-reflective love, in their lives through the wisdom of ancient Hawaiian healing.
Learn more about Pōhala here.
