Hawaii, a grouping of eight islands, is known for its mystical magic-users and healers called kahuna, meaning ‘guardian of the secret.’ It was rumored that the kahuna were some of the most powerful wizards (1) known throughout the world. Their healing and magical arts were known to be able to mend broken bones as well as influence the actions of sea creatures, the wind and the waves. But there was also a deep and dark side to some of these wizards; many were feared as they were rumored to be able to pray people to death.

Sherry and I had first voyaged to these islands many years past, only to return again and again, ever seeking more knowledge and power. Even though we had apprenticed with Vince and Mom Stogan of British Columbia, we still had a restless and adventurous nature. This drove us to seek out and to explore the power and the knowledge of other cultures’ shamans, a trait that others would view as ridiculous. They would only want to study one culture’s magic. But not Sherry and I; we felt the need to discover the ‘first knowledge’ or the ancient root knowledge that had been forgotten, or even worse, that had been suppressed, manipulated and/or changed.

I had arrived early on the Big Island two days ahead of my son, Jamie, and five days ahead of Sherry, our daughter, Jessie, and our students. As I breathed deeply of the salt air, I was overly ecstatic that I had returned to the islands of Hawaii especially to the Big Island, the isle of the volcano goddess. The previous year we had been drawn to this island of fire and water after having spent much time in the past on the rainbow isle and the valley isle. Each island of Hawaii is different, energetically and emotionally. Some say that each isle is linked to a chakra—a name used for an energy vortex.

Shortly after I had arrived, I conducted what these islanders call ho-okupu. This is a ritual of gifting and honoring. I included prayers honoring the land, the people, the ‘aumâkua and the akua (2) as well as asking for permission to do my spirit work, guidance and protection for myself, my family, the seekers and my friend. My gifting was a flower. Ho-okupu means ‘to cause growth’ as well as ‘ceremonial gift-giving.’ It could be a flower (something organic) or as simple as a prayer with the intent of giving something unconditionally back to the land and to the unseen and seen sacred ones.

Arriving early meant that I would also be able to spend some time with my friend, who was also the ‘keeper of the sacred healing pools.’ We had experienced many adventures together the preceding year. My wife, my friend and I had taken a group of seekers to witness the volcano goddess giving birth (erupting) that year. It was a moment in time that words could never really describe. To be able to witness the power of the creation of new earth, which I deemed ‘baby earth,’ as it merged with the sea is a memory that will stay with us and impact us for the totality of our existence. This was only one of many such adventures that we shared together that year. I had no doubt that this year would be as mystical and enchanted as last year.

For the next two days, my friend and I traded stories and teachings while spending the majority of our time at the place known as the Refuge. Its formal name is Pu'uhonua o Honaunau. As a refuge it provided a place where a person would be given a second-chance at life. This place of forgiveness was located on the ocean and contained the healing pools that were part of my friend’s medicine. The power of the ocean and its salt water are a continuous source of healing medicine for these islanders.

After my son arrived, the three of us began an adventure that preceded the arrival of our group. Our first destination was the ‘white sand beach’ before we headed to an ancient, and no longer populated, fishing village.

Stress is a silent killer in our society. People do not know how to relax. So my friend was going to show us an old-time healing method using the heat of the sand. When we arrived at the beach, the white sand had been bathed in the sun’s fiery embrace for hours. It was one of those beautiful days that draw people to these islands with a splendor that lovingly vibrates to the depths of one’s soul.

However, by mistake I took off my flip-flops. This made walking barefoot across the sand comparable to walking on hot coals. My walk must have seen like a chaotic dance of survival to anyone watching us. Gratefully, there was some shade, an oasis of coolness surrounded by a caldron of heat that was our destination. Thankful for the coolness, I survived the walk without making too much of a fool out of myself.

We spent time looking, listening and mimicking my friend’s actions and knowledge. This is one of the key philosophies of the kahuna— Nânâ ka maka, ho’olohe, pa’a ka waha, ho’opili: observe, listen, and keep mouth shut, mimic, mimic and mimic. After a few hours, including time in the surf, we headed for the fishing village.

Calling it a fishing village does not really reveal its true identity. Yes, the village sustained itself through fishing, but the primary purpose of the village was as a gathering place for practitioners, students and teachers of the healing arts. It dated back some 600 years when magic was a way of life. The village was deserted when we arrived and only the sound of the wind and the surf broke the silence that surrounded us.

As we walked the pathways that crisscrossed the ancient village, I could feel the power, the great mana, (3) of the site. Soon we arrived at a ledge that overlooked the ocean, which the Hawaiians refer to as grandmother, and decided that it was a good spot to meditate, to pray.

Time passed; images came and went in my mind as the veil between the worlds became thinner and thinner. After a period of time, I was back in the present hearing the surf and feeling the hot breath of the sun on the side of my face. As my eyes opened slowly, adjusting themselves to the light and to this reality, a sense of peace and happiness settled on me as if a mantle of lehua (4) blossoms were a part of my soul.

A few minutes passed in silence as the wind gently rocked us. Then as I was beginning to explain to our friend the burning that I wanted to perform—a bat flew towards us, circled around us and then disappeared. This was in bright sunshine and during a time of day when bats usually do not appear. Our Hawaiian friend was amazed and excited by the appearance of the bat and told us that it was a great sign. It meant that nothing would stand in our way. We would be able to flow around any obstacles, physical or otherwise.

After the appearance of the bat, we bid goodbye to the village and drove to our last stop of the day. We were headed to one of the sacrificial temples of these isles—Mo’okini Heiau. It was situated not too far from the fishing village, and it as well, over-looked the ocean. Even though it had been built as a temple honoring Io, the creator god of these islands, it had been changed into one that worshipped Ku, the war god. It was here where human sacrifice was practiced.

The temple had long been deserted, but that did not mean that it was uninhabited. Stones hold memories and destructive spirits may still linger in the inner recesses of such temple ruins. Caution, respect and common sense are important when approaching a heiau. And the proper prayers and offerings are not only necessary, but essential. Stones are never to be taken from a temple; not only out of respect, but also because they may carry memories that could adversely affect a human.

It was late afternoon when we arrived at the heiau; a time to be extra-cautious as it is the time when the spirits would begin to awaken. As we approached the heiau, I knew that my friend was doing prayers. No words were spoken as the three of us entered the ruins of the temple. Time suspended. I had an un-easy feeling about this sacred area that at one time had witnessed the sacrifice of humans to ‘feed’ the war god. It was the same feeling that I’ve had a few times before. Once during the summer of 1981, I had a similar feeling in Glastonbury, England when Sherry and I had an encounter with a ‘spirit monk.’ (5)

After spending time in prayer we left the inner ruins of the heiau. On the way out my friend threw a stone into one of the open enclosures. All the while I felt that we were being watched by unseen eyes and followed. On the way back to our vehicle, I kept looking over my shoulder, expecting to see something or someone at any time. I was correct. As it turned out, a ‘spirit’ had followed me, but that is a tale for another time and another book.

Further excerpts from the Preface of The Greatest Lie Ever Told

(1) I use this term to underscore the power of the kahuna as sorcerer, magician, priest and healer.

(2) Deities

(3) Divine power – Life force

(4) The official flower of the Big Island that originates from an evergreen tree of the myrtle family and is sacred to Pele, the volcano goddess, and Laka, the goddess of dance.

(5) I tell the story of my experience in Chapter 8