Kahu Lanakilakahuokalani Brandt was born on July 15, 1924 in Honolulu, Hawaii and died December 2, 2005 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Kahu Lanakila’, as I called him, was a visionary practitioner and pioneering teacher of ancient Hawaiian cultural arts. I can still remember the first day that I met Kahu Lanakila’ when his bright gaze burned right through to my soul. I would never be the same.

     Kahu Lanakila’ began his training in the Hawaiian cultural arts in 1934 under his maternal grandfather, Kehauleo Waiwaiole of Ka’a’awa and Kalihi-uka, Oahu. In 1938, he also began to study with Kekuaokalani Joseph Ilalaole of Honolulu. Although he graduated as a Kumu Hula in 1950, he continued to study with various kapuna (Hawai’ian elders) throughout his life including Luka Kinolau, a renowned kahuna lapa’au (healing priestess). In 1969 he founded Kahanahou Hawaiian Foundation, a Native Hawaiian nonprofit foundation dedicated to perpetuate and advance the spiritual, cultural, and philosophic traditions of ancient Hawaii. Initially, he taught mostly hula, chant, percussion, and Hawaiian language at his halau (school) in Kealakekua, Hawaii. But with the easing of legislative restrictions on ancient Hawaiian spiritual practices, formerly punishable by fine and imprisonment, Kahu began to openly practice as a kahuna (Hawaiian priest) of the Order of Lono, the Hawaiian deity dedicated to agricultural, healing, and other peaceful activities. He was finally able to openly continue the work of his grandfather. As the spiritual leader of Hale o Lono, Kahu Lanakila’ restored the ancient temple rites at the main heiau (Hawaiian temple) at Pu’uhonua o Honaunau, an ancient City of Refuge located on the Big Island of Hawaii.

     On a personal level, Kahu Lanakila’ has had a major impact on my life. At Pu’uhonua o Honaunau, he performed my marriage ceremony, and blessed my first two children whom he had named. Even before he became the godfather of my first born son, Kahu taught me various Hawaiian cultural arts, most notably the Native Hawaiian mysteries known as po’ohuna, oftentimes referred to by non-Hawaiians as huna. It was an honor, a privilege, and a great responsibility to learn the sacred arts of ho’omana (spiritual power generation) and la’au kahea (spiritual healing) from the kapuna considered to be the oldest living expert on such topics.

     Although Kahu Lanakila’s physical presence is no longer with us, his spiritual essence lives on in his lineal descendants and his sincere haumana (students). His heart still radiates the aloha spirit. His encouragement still inspires thousands to follow their dreams. His teachings still alter my view of reality on a regular basis. The Hawaiian phrase “Eia ka ula, he ulaleo, he uku, he mohai, he kanaenae” meaning a lifetime of dedication, study, devotion, hard work, and sacrifice best sums up the life of Kahu Lanakila’. This modern day kahuna was able to live up the name that his grandfather gave him so many years ago, Lanakilakahuokalani -’victorious keeper of the gods’. Aloha Kahu, mahalo nui loa. I’ll see you in our dreams.