Voyage to Wellness

Travel guru Ruth Carlson shares some of her experiences on the healing island of Hawai’i in her article:

http://epoch-archive.com/a1/en/us/sfo/2008/09-Sep/11/B5_Travel.pdf

After you read it, you may be motivated to call your travel guides and book your next voyage to wellness for the Winter of 2008-2009!

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The big island of Hawai’i is a premier place of wellness because the native people have the spirit of Aloha, and the actively growing island of adventure has the gift of Mana.
Aloha is the quintessential spirit of caring and love. Mana is the spiritual manifestation of ernergy and wellness.

Kumu Dane Kaohelani Silva
Puna, Island of Hawai’i

Sailing Plan: general
Our approach to guiding the process of transformation and healing in the individual is to journey with them on a voyage to wellness. The Hawaiian voyaging canoe is the cultural metaphor that we use in describing the chosen vehicle for travel. The canoe is also the symbol of the human body. The parts of the body share the same terminology as the part of the canoe. Traditional methods of navigation and wayfinding are used to help chart a course and speed toward a specific wellness goal or port of call. This can be compared to a benchmark of wellness, such as a reduction of inflammatory markers on the surface of the body, within the blood and internal organs, and inside the skeletal, nervous, endocrine and immune systems. These wayfinding signs that can be used in travel across the ocean of time and space may also be used to help guide the individual in their own care and management of their lifestyle.

This is an indigenous process, which means that each participant becomes immersed in the natural science, traditional culture and contemporary lifestyles of transformation, empowerment and expression of the life force. It is wholistic in the assessment of each sailing plan or care plan. It is systematic and thorough to provide the most comprehensive assessment feasible for each canoe or individual. It may also employ intuition, which is the navigators’ connection to the cyclical behavior of the seasonal winds and waves, moods of light and darkness, expressed in quiet stillness or loud movement. The wellness caregiver is trained to use multiple systems of physical examination, including the physical, psychosocial, mental and spiritual.

Crew Training
Ongoing courses are available for prospective crew members and passengers on the voyage to wellness. Check with calendar of events for the next course that fits your time, energy and budget.

Crew Call
Welcome and join us as we assemble the next crew for our upcoming voyage to wellness. Our home port is on the big island of Hawai’i, located on the Eastern coastline of Puna. It is a historical place in our families, because our ancestors were born, lived and survived in this area. It is both actual and virtual to us, because of its symbolism and relationship to the past, present and the future. Don’t wait until we have already left port on our journey of exploration and adventure. Leave us with your contact information, best times to talk, and questions.

http://www.kokolulu.com/

Starlines

Specific areas of the body, and body sculpting techniques from the Hawaiian tradition of lomilomi, are symbolized by the names and use of 4 starlines. These navigational aids also correlate to hula movements, canoe parts, and other daily activities and structures in the Hawaiian lifestyle.

These starlines are used by voyagers to navigate their canoes during the night:
1. Ke Ka o Makali’i
2. Ka Iwikuamo’o
3. Manaiakalani
4. Ka Lupe O Kawelo.

Ke Ka o Makali’i
The shape of this starline is like a large letter C in the sky; it resembles the scoop used to bail water out of the canoe. It symbolizes the scooping motions used to massage or lomi the body. It also represents the cleansing of the na’au or internal organs, through the use of herbal medicine, lomilomi and through balanced meals or nutrition.

On the land, a stone structure that resembles the letter C is used for foundation of the canoe halau. This halau represents shelter for the extended family or ohana.

In self-care movements, the arms are held down alongside the trunk of the body. The knees and ankles are bent; the back is relatively erect or straight. The elbows are extended slightly to the rear; the shoulder blades are drawn in slightly. this posture is known as ‘ai ha’a. It is used in hula ki’i.

This starline is represented in the body by the head.

Ka Iwikuamo’o

The shape of this starline is like a line across the sky.

The backbone of the body runs from the head to the tail. It is a vital link to all of the body organs and tissues. The three piko are found in the head, chest and abdomen. These areas also correspond to the brain, heart and lungs, internal and reproductive organs. The curvature of the spine is evaluated and restored with combined self-care and multi-purpose lomilomi movements. The body is placed in a kneeling position for palpation of the head, spine and hips. Lomilomi to balance the symmetry and function of the spinal curves may be applied regularly to correct deficiencies, irregularities or postural habits. Careful attention is provided during evaluation and care to assure safety and comfort of the backbone of the body during lomilomi.

Like the movement of the mo’o or water dragon, the spine is moved like the waves of the ocean with the focussed intention of the trained lomilomi provider. The care of this important structural component of the body by each person is the key to a long, and healthy life. The backbone is an essential source of mana or spiritual power.

The bottom of the canoe running fore to aft is called the iwikuamo’o. It is the foundation for the canoe. It represents the generations of the canoe families, from the ancient past to the present day. It symbolizes the family.

This starline is represented in the body by the spine.

Manaiakalani

The distinctive part of this starline is the image of a large fish hook in the sky. It also features the Navigator’s Triangle.

Huki is the term used to pull. It is used to describe the pulling motion of the lines on the voyaging canoe. For example, lifting the boom up alongside the mast is done by pulling the line or stay. Pulling in the mooring lines is done by coordinated actions of the crew.

The movement of the body and hands while pulling up the fish from the deep ocean is the key to this lomilomi technology. The intricate posture of each hand may mirror each other, while rolling in circles in the air. Like lifting and pulling in the fish, these lomilomi techniques are powerful in their actions on the four corners (shoulders; hips; organs).

One style of this technique is used to redirect stagnant energy or fluid from a blocked part of the body back into circulation. This technique can also be used to handle hot stones for lomilomi on the back or front of the body. It is also used during lomi wai ola or water healing with lomilomi on the floating person. This is a versatile technique, that can be focussed in a small area of the body, or used to stimulate large areas of the body.

Another visualization of this movement is the strong stroke of the canoe paddler. Like the paddle pulling the water alongside the canoe, the hands of the lomilomi provider can move the skin and underlying tissues smoothly and carefully. A surfer paddles his hands through the water alongside his or her surfboard. The swimmer pulls themself through the water with long, fluid strokes alongside their own body. The lomilomi provider glides their hands carefully and accurately across the soft and hard contours of the body, sensing the innate vibrations of the life force within the tissues.

In self-care movements, this technique resembles the ‘ale ‘ale gestures of hula. The range of motion of the wrists, elbows and shoulders are maintained with slow and fast, rhythmic movements. This movement represents the rolling motion of energies, in the wind, in the waves and in the sounds of life.

This starline is represented in the person by the upper body, including the arms and hands, heart and lungs.

Ka Lupe O Kawelo

This starline features a large box in the sky. The beautiful form of the iwa bird, called Iwakeli’i is also featured.

The four corners of the body are symbolized by the kite of Kawelo. Using circular movements around the joints of the shoulder and the hips, along with compression and traction and rotational techniques, improved range of motion may coincide with pain relief and corrected posture. The strength and coordination of the upper and the lower extremities depend on the care and health of the major joints. The shoulders and hips are the links between the core or trunk of the body, and the extremities. Lomilomi movements in these vital areas is important for the continued health of the arms and hands, legs and feet.

The square shape represents the foundation and root. The lower body, from hips to feet also represent the foundation and root.

The rib cage encloses the vital organs above, and shelters the organs below. This area of the body below the ribs can be palpated for localization of structural or functional disorders of the na’au or internal organs. A pregnant mother would be delicately touched to determine the position of the fetus. Inflammatory disorders can also be sensed through the touch of the hands.

Correct movement of a displaced organ may help to prevent chronic inflammation and cancer. Lomilomi provides both diagnostic information and therapeutic procedures for the improved health of both the chest and abdominal regions.

This starline is represented in the body by the shoulders, and hips, and all the vital areas enclosed between and within those major joints.

When you travel across the ocean to the big island of Hawai’i, you can enlist the assistance of an expert in wellness and in big island travel. Isn’t that what you want? Here are some interesting pieces of information for you to consider:

Personal guides to wellness may include:
• licensed massage therapists
• complementary and alternative medicine specialists
• integrative medicine doctors
• cultural heritage specialists
• traditional healers
• aloha & hospitality

Big Island Travel Guidebook To Wellness

Create your own guidebook that incorporates information from the internet, your automobile insurance company, the Big Island Visitor’s Bureau, and tour guidebooks. This becomes your personalized menu of options for your wellness travel program. When you have listed your options, then you can make decisions on where to go, what to do, and when. Ask your wellness travel guide persons for assistance with your program.

• shoreline
• mountain
• Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
• rainforest
• ocean
• tide pools
• dojo
• economy
• decadence
• meals
• celebrations
• accommodations
• transportation
• entertainment
• education
• shopping
• service

Pick up your passport to wellness: Big Island Wellness Passport

• personal record
• documented activities
• unique stamps

Bring your own wellness travel kits: clothes, footwear, eyewear, timepiece, cell phone, etc. for different places:

• land
• sea
• city
• travel

Don’t forget to include the itinerary as a part of your own wellness travel planner:
• calendar
• flights
• vehicles
• vacation rentals
• bed & breakfasts
• hotels
• activities
• celebrations

Oh yes. Please bring along your medications, supplements, contact lenses, or other personal toiletry and hygiene needs.

Voyage To Wellness In Hilo: 

Relationships Between Hula, Star Lines And Traditional Hawaiian Healing : 10:00 am - 11:30 am

You are invited to join us on April 2, 2008 at the Imiloa Planetarium in Hilo, Hawai’i. We will be offering our presentation in the morning around 10:00 am. This presentation helps us to understand the deeper, cultural connections between traditional language, Hawaiian navigation, voyaging, canoes and the healing arts of lomilomi and la’au lapa’au. These healing arts are a part of the traditional arts of survival. Lomilomi is a form of care that is used to keep the body strong and flexible through manual medicine. La’au lapa’au provides the herbal component of traditional medicine. Hula will also be an integral part of the presentation on movement and breath. Nutritional insights will also be shared as an essential element of survival, voyaging, and cultural ways of life.

Japanese Language Introduction to Hawaiian Healing Arts: 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm

The connections between hula, voyaging and healing arts will be offered with cultural interpretations in Hawaiian, English, Japanese.

Don’t lose your record of your daily thoughts, words, and deeds. Keep some of your recorded feelings on hand as well, because they can also bring back vivid memories when you look back onto your voyages of wellness. Keep a logbook of each day and time that you are underway on the voyaging canoe of wellness. Your logbook can also store your images, your music, your written words. Use your imagination to make this keepsake a bright reflection or your feelings and travel highlights. Transfer your favorite items to a digital logbook near an internet-enhanced port of call as well, when you want your family and friends to share the ongoing excitement of your experiences.

During your travels, you will vist different ports where you select wellness activities, lodging, meals, entertainment, education and adventure. In each place, the guide will stamp your passport with a unique token of your visit. This enables you to keep accurate track of your experiences, noting locations and dates to complement your logbook. Keep this passport close to your heart: it is a precious memento of your choice to make a wonderful change in your life.