Sacred Library · Hawaiian Medicine
Lāʻau Lapaʻau
The Ancient Hawaiian Art of Healing
For over 2,000 years, the kahuna lāʻau lapaʻau — the master healers of Hawaiʻi — developed one of the most sophisticated plant medicine systems in the world. Rooted in the understanding that illness is imbalance and healing is restoration, these traditions are as relevant today as they were when the first voyagers arrived on these shores.
The Foundation
Illness as Imbalance,
Healing as Restoration
The Hawaiian healing tradition rests on a profound understanding of the human being as a multidimensional entity — physical (kino), emotional (naʻau), mental (noʻonoʻo), and spiritual (uhane). True healing must address all four dimensions simultaneously.
The kahuna lāʻau lapaʻau understood that most illness has its roots not in the body alone, but in broken relationships — with other people, with the land, with the ancestors, and with the divine. The plants are the medicine, but the prayer, the intention, and the restoration of right relationship are what make the medicine work.
This understanding — that healing is relational, not merely biochemical — is now being confirmed by modern neuroscience. The therapeutic relationship, the set and setting, the intention and the integration: these are not peripheral to healing. They are the healing.
Mālama ʻāina
"Care for the land — the land cares for you"
The foundation of Hawaiian ecology and medicine. The plants that heal us grow from the same land that sustains us.
Aloha kekahi i kekahi
"Love one another"
The relational basis of all Hawaiian healing. Illness that arises from broken relationships requires relational healing.
I ola nō i ka pono
"One lives in righteousness"
Health is not merely the absence of disease — it is the active presence of right relationship, right action, and right intention.
Nānā i ke kumu
"Look to the source"
The kahuna always sought the root cause of illness — not merely the symptoms. True healing addresses the source.
The Sacred Plants
The Canoe Plants of Healing
The original Polynesian voyagers carried 24 sacred plants on every voyaging canoe — the foundation of Hawaiian civilization. These are the healers among them.
ʻAwa
Piper methysticum · Kava
The most sacred plant in Hawaiian culture. ʻAwa — known across the Pacific as kava — is a root whose prepared drink has been central to Hawaiian ceremony, prayer, and healing for over 3,000 years. The Hawaiian proverb says: *E hānai ʻawa a ikaika ka makani* — 'Feed with ʻawa so that the spirit may gain strength.'
ʻAwa was brought to Hawaiʻi by the original Polynesian voyagers who navigated by the stars from the Marquesas Islands around 400 CE. It was among the most precious of the canoe plants — the 24 species carried on every voyaging canoe as the foundation of Hawaiian civilization. In ancient Hawaiʻi, ʻawa was offered to the gods before every major ceremony, used by kahuna to enter states of heightened spiritual perception, and given to the dying to ease their passage from Pō to Ao.
Traditional Uses
- Ceremonial offerings to the akua (gods) and ʻaumākua (ancestral spirits)
- Preparation for prayer, chant, and hula — opening the spiritual channels
- Relief from anxiety, stress, and restlessness — the original anxiolytic
- Muscle relaxation and pain relief without cognitive impairment
- Sleep support and treatment of insomnia
- Social bonding and conflict resolution in community gatherings
- Preparation for deep meditation and introspective work
The Science
Modern research has identified the active compounds in ʻawa as kavalactones — a family of molecules that interact with GABA receptors in the brain, producing relaxation and mild euphoria without the cognitive dulling of alcohol. Unlike alcohol, ʻawa does not impair judgment or coordination. Studies show kavalactones reduce anxiety comparably to pharmaceutical benzodiazepines, with a significantly better safety profile. The World Health Organization has reviewed kava safety extensively and found it safe for human consumption at traditional doses.
At Pō a Ao
At Pō a Ao, ʻawa is the bridge between worlds — between the everyday mind and the deeper states that healing requires. We incorporate traditional ʻawa ceremony as preparation for all our medicine journeys, following the ancient Hawaiian protocol of prayer, offering, and intention-setting that has been practiced on this land for millennia.
Māmaki
Pipturus albidus · Hawaiian Nettle
A plant found only in Hawaiʻi — endemic to these islands and nowhere else on Earth. Māmaki is the most widely used medicinal plant in traditional Hawaiian healing, treasured by the kahuna lāʻau lapaʻau for its extraordinary range of healing properties. Its leaves, bark, and fruit were used for everything from purification to strengthening the naʻau (gut/intuition).
Māmaki has been part of Hawaiian healing practice since the first Polynesian settlers arrived. The kahuna used it as a primary purification medicine — preparing patients for ceremony, clearing the body before healing rituals, and restoring balance after illness. It was considered a plant of the ʻāina (land) itself — a gift from the islands to their people.
Traditional Uses
- Purification of the naʻau (gut/intuition center) before ceremony
- Treatment of fatigue and restoration of vitality
- Respiratory support — opening the lungs for allergies and congestion
- Blood pressure regulation and cardiovascular support
- Digestive healing and treatment of constipation
- Antioxidant and immune system support
- Preparation of the body and spirit before plant medicine journeys
The Science
Modern analysis has found māmaki leaves to be extraordinarily rich in antioxidants — particularly chlorogenic acid and rutin — that support cardiovascular health and reduce inflammation. Studies have confirmed traditional uses for blood pressure regulation and immune support. The plant contains compounds that support the gut microbiome, which aligns with the Hawaiian concept of the naʻau as the seat of intuition and emotional intelligence.
At Pō a Ao
Māmaki tea is served at Pō a Ao as part of our daily healing protocol — a gentle, grounding practice that connects guests to the land of Hawaiʻi and prepares the body for deeper work.
Noni
Morinda citrifolia · Indian Mulberry
One of the most powerful healing plants in the Hawaiian pharmacopoeia. Every part of the noni plant — roots, bark, leaves, flowers, and fruit — was used medicinally by the kahuna lāʻau lapaʻau. Called the 'queen of the canoe plants,' noni was considered a complete medicine — capable of treating physical, emotional, and spiritual illness.
Noni was one of the original canoe plants brought to Hawaiʻi by Polynesian voyagers. In ancient Hawaiian medicine, it was used both internally and externally — the leaves as poultices for wounds and infections, the fruit juice as a tonic for general health, and the roots for deep systemic healing. The kahuna considered noni a plant of Kāne — the god of healing, fresh water, and life.
Traditional Uses
- Wound healing and treatment of infections (topical leaf poultice)
- Immune system strengthening and general tonic
- Treatment of fever and bacterial infections
- Digestive support and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders
- Skin conditions and inflammatory conditions
- Pain relief and anti-inflammatory applications
- Spiritual cleansing and protection
The Science
Noni contains a remarkable array of bioactive compounds including proxeronine (a precursor to xeronine, which supports cellular function), anthraquinones with antibacterial properties, and scopoletin which supports blood pressure regulation. Modern studies have confirmed significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulating effects. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has documented noni's traditional uses and notes its potential as an adjunct to cancer care.
At Pō a Ao
Noni is incorporated into our nutritional healing protocol at Pō a Ao — fresh noni juice prepared by our on-site chef as part of the daily healing diet that supports the body's recovery and transformation.
Kukui
Aleurites moluccanus · Candlenut
The state tree of Hawaiʻi and one of the most versatile healing plants in the Hawaiian tradition. Kukui is a plant of light — its oil was burned in stone lamps to illuminate the night, and its name means 'light' or 'enlightenment.' For the kahuna, kukui was a plant that brought clarity, illumination, and the ability to see what was hidden.
Kukui was sacred to Kamapuaʻa, the pig god associated with fertility and the land. It was one of the most important canoe plants — used for light, medicine, food, and ceremony. The lei kukui — a garland of polished kukui nuts — was worn by aliʻi (chiefs) as a symbol of wisdom and enlightenment. The kahuna used kukui oil in healing ceremonies to anoint the sick and illuminate the path to healing.
Traditional Uses
- Skin healing — kukui nut oil is one of the most penetrating and healing oils known
- Treatment of burns, wounds, and skin conditions
- Constipation relief (roasted nuts as a gentle laxative)
- Ceremonial anointing and spiritual protection
- Hair and scalp treatment
- Illumination in ceremony — the original light of Hawaiʻi
- Symbolic use in healing — bringing light to dark places within
The Science
Kukui nut oil has an exceptionally high content of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids — essential fatty acids that are deeply penetrating and anti-inflammatory. Modern cosmetic science has confirmed its extraordinary efficacy for skin healing, wound repair, and inflammation reduction. The oil's molecular structure allows it to penetrate deeper into skin than almost any other plant oil.
At Pō a Ao
Kukui oil is used in our Lomilomi healing massage sessions at Pō a Ao — the traditional Hawaiian body work that opens energy pathways and releases stored trauma from the body.
Kalo
Colocasia esculenta · Taro
The most sacred plant in Hawaiian culture — the elder sibling of the Hawaiian people. According to the Kumulipo, kalo was the first child of Wākea (Sky Father) and Papahānaumoku (Earth Mother) — born before the Hawaiian people themselves. Kalo is not merely food; it is kin. The Hawaiian people are the younger siblings of kalo.
The relationship between the Hawaiian people and kalo is the deepest in Hawaiian culture — older than any other. For over 2,000 years, kalo has been the foundation of Hawaiian civilization — the primary food, the sacred plant, and the living embodiment of the connection between the people and their land. The kahuna used kalo in healing ceremonies as a symbol of nourishment, rootedness, and the continuity of life from Pō to Ao.
Traditional Uses
- Primary nutrition — poi (pounded kalo) is the most digestible food known
- Healing of digestive disorders — poi is used for infants and the ill
- Spiritual nourishment — eating kalo is a sacred act of communion with the ʻāina
- Treatment of skin conditions (leaf poultice)
- Ceremonial offerings and ritual use
- Grounding and rootedness — reconnecting to the earth
- Symbol of family, community, and the continuity of life
The Science
Kalo is nutritionally extraordinary — rich in complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins B6 and E, potassium, and manganese. Its starch granules are the smallest of any food plant, making it the most easily digestible starch known — suitable for infants, the elderly, and those with digestive disorders. Modern research has confirmed its prebiotic properties and its role in supporting a healthy gut microbiome.
At Pō a Ao
Our on-site chef prepares traditional Hawaiian meals featuring kalo as part of the healing diet at Pō a Ao — honoring the ancient understanding that food is medicine, and that nourishing the body with the sacred plants of this land is itself a healing act.
The Practices
Ancient Healing Arts
Beyond the plants, the kahuna tradition encompasses a rich array of healing practices — each addressing a different dimension of the human being.
Lāʻau Lapaʻau
The Art of Plant Healing
Lāʻau lapaʻau — literally 'plant medicine' — is the traditional Hawaiian system of healing using medicinal plants. It is practiced by the kahuna lāʻau lapaʻau, healers who undergo years of training to learn the proper use of each plant, the prayers and protocols that activate their healing power, and the spiritual dimensions of illness and recovery.
In the Hawaiian worldview, illness is never purely physical. The kahuna lāʻau lapaʻau understands that disease arises from imbalance — in the body, in relationships, in the spirit, or in one's relationship with the land and the ancestors. Healing therefore requires addressing all of these dimensions simultaneously. The plants are not merely chemical agents; they are living beings with their own mana (spiritual power) that, when approached with proper protocol and prayer, work in concert with the healer and the patient to restore balance. The kahuna lāʻau lapaʻau diagnoses through observation, touch, prayer, and sometimes dreams — then prescribes specific plant combinations, dietary changes, and spiritual practices tailored to the individual patient.
Hoʻoponopono
Making Right — The Practice of Forgiveness
Hoʻoponopono — literally 'to make right' — is the ancient Hawaiian practice of reconciliation, forgiveness, and the restoration of harmony. It is one of the most powerful healing practices in the Hawaiian tradition, addressing the relational and spiritual roots of illness that lāʻau lapaʻau alone cannot reach.
In the Hawaiian understanding, many illnesses — particularly chronic conditions, depression, addiction, and trauma — have their roots in unresolved conflict, unforgiveness, and broken relationships. Hoʻoponopono is the process of bringing these hidden wounds into the light, speaking them aloud in a sacred container, and releasing them through prayer, forgiveness, and the restoration of right relationship. The practice involves four essential elements: *Repentance* (I'm sorry), *Forgiveness* (Please forgive me), *Gratitude* (Thank you), and *Love* (I love you). These four phrases, spoken with sincerity, are understood to dissolve the energetic cords of resentment and trauma that bind us to our past. Modern therapists have found hoʻoponopono to be remarkably effective as a complement to psychedelic-assisted therapy — the forgiveness work done in integration sessions mirrors the ancient Hawaiian practice almost exactly.
Lomilomi
Sacred Hawaiian Bodywork
Lomilomi is the traditional Hawaiian healing massage — a sacred bodywork practice that uses long, flowing strokes, prayer, breath, and intention to release stored trauma, open energy pathways, and restore the free flow of mana through the body. It is not merely a massage; it is a ceremony.
The word lomilomi means 'to knead, to work in and out, as the paws of a satisfied cat.' But the practice goes far deeper than the physical. The lomilomi practitioner works with the body as a map of the person's entire life — physical injuries, emotional wounds, and spiritual blockages all leave their imprint in the muscles, fascia, and connective tissue. Through prayer, breath, and skilled touch, the lomilomi healer works to release these stored patterns, allowing the body to return to its natural state of ease and flow. Traditional lomilomi is always preceded by prayer — the practitioner asks permission from the patient's body and from the spiritual forces that guide the healing. It is offered in a spirit of aloha — unconditional love — and the healing that occurs is understood to come not from the practitioner but through them, from the divine source that all healing ultimately comes from.
Hā — The Sacred Breath
The Breath of Life
Hā means breath — and in Hawaiian, it is the most sacred thing. The word aloha itself contains hā: alo (presence, face-to-face) + hā (breath) = the sharing of breath, the sharing of life. The traditional Hawaiian greeting — pressing foreheads and noses together and breathing together — is called the honi, and it is the sharing of hā.
In Hawaiian healing, the breath is the bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. The kahuna used specific breathing practices to enter altered states, to channel healing energy, and to transmit mana to patients. The breath is also the vehicle through which the spirit enters and leaves the body — in Hawaiian, the moment of death is described as 'the last hā.' Conscious breathwork is woven through all Hawaiian healing practices — in lomilomi, in hoʻoponopono, in ceremony, and in the preparation for plant medicine journeys. At Pō a Ao, we teach the traditional Hawaiian breathing practices as part of our preparation and integration protocols, helping guests use the breath as a tool for entering and navigating non-ordinary states of consciousness.
The Healers
The Kahuna Lāʻau Lapaʻau
Kahuna Lāʻau Lapaʻau
Plant Medicine Healer
The primary healer in the Hawaiian tradition. Trained from childhood in the identification, preparation, and spiritual use of hundreds of medicinal plants. The kahuna lāʻau lapaʻau diagnoses through prayer, observation, and touch — then prescribes specific plant combinations tailored to the individual.
Kahuna Hāhā
Diagnostic Healer
The diagnostician of the Hawaiian healing system. The kahuna hāhā uses touch — feeling the body's energy, the pulse, the tension in the muscles and organs — to identify the source of illness. They work in concert with the kahuna lāʻau lapaʻau, providing diagnosis while the plant healer provides treatment.
Kahuna Pule
Prayer Healer
The spiritual healer who works through prayer, chant, and ceremony. The kahuna pule addresses the spiritual dimensions of illness — the broken relationships, the unresolved grief, the spiritual disconnection that underlies many chronic conditions. Their work is the foundation upon which all other healing rests.
Why Hawaiian Medicine at Pō a Ao?
The healing journey we offer at Pō a Ao is not merely a clinical protocol. It is a return to an ancient understanding — that healing is relational, multidimensional, and inseparable from the land, the ancestors, and the community.
The Hawaiian healing tradition and the modern psychedelic medicine renaissance are, at their deepest level, saying the same thing: that the source of most human suffering is disconnection — from ourselves, from each other, from the natural world, and from the sacred. And that healing is not the suppression of symptoms but the restoration of connection.
When we incorporate ʻawa ceremony, māmaki tea, lomilomi bodywork, and hoʻoponopono practice into our healing programs, we are not adding cultural decoration to a Western medical protocol. We are honoring the wisdom of the land that has been healing people on these islands for 2,000 years — and weaving it together with the best of modern medicine to create something that neither tradition could offer alone.
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