Hīpuʻu

Kii: Ku'ialuaopuna

A genealogy, or Kūauhau, is a lineage of traditions—a pedigree that traces back to a foundational origin. Similarly, a Moʻokūauhau is a succession of ancestral knots on a cord. Each knot on that kaula is unique, yet every new knot represents a succession of teachings that improve over the length of the cord because of the knots that came before it. Pakuʻialua is a unique knot on a long cord of traditional Lua practitioners and ʻōlohe dating back hundreds of years. Kuʻialuaopuna is the latest knot to emerge from Pakuʻialua; it, too, is unique.

These individual qualities are essential for the cord to continue growing. Each knot must have its own ideals and teachings to hold the framework together. These traditions set the boundaries that form the uniqueness of every knot. Within a hālau, these guidelines cannot be blurred or compromised, or the hālau will cease to progress smoothly. It is the kumu who focuses on the highest progression of the hālau, using their knowledge and judgment to mold the practitioners to a specific standard.

In the ancient lua and hula pā, laws existed to ensure the cord grew without internal turmoil. A haumāna (student) was not meant to wander between multiple hālau; to do so showed a lack of dedication. The term ʻai wale describes one who lacks loyalty and is driven only by a greed for knowledge—eating what they want with no care for others. Once such a reputation is known, no one will commit to teaching them. In contrast, a kumu is deeply dedicated to their haumāna, providing all the knowledge necessary to help them reach their highest potential.

Traditional hālau are rare today. Ancient guidelines are often relaxed, and rules are blurred by modern Western values. The contemporary concept of "cross-training"—learning from many sources simultaneously without regard for the values of each hālau—is a foreign concept. It leads many to lessen their standards and weaken their "knot." Two terms are often used in this context: ʻOki, which means to cut or sever, and Mōkapiko. Mōkapiko combines moku (to be severed; the completed action) and piko (the umbilical cord that links and nourishes). When a relationship is mōkapiko, all kinship ties are lost and no bond is recognized.

Here below is part of an old Lua chant:

Aia la ka maka o ka opua

I poi ia, e ke kui

Ke loku mai la, ka ua

Ka hehi ana I ka pua o ka lehua

Nakeke I ka iwi aoaoa

Moku I ka ohe...

There indeed is the low hanging cloud

Enveloped by the strike

The downpour of rain

The warriors are trampled

Rattled are the sides

Severed is the bamboo...