Hā’ale’ale i ka pu’uwai
roughly translates as “A heart full to the brim (with love).”
While the word pu`uwai means heart in Hawaiian, it translates literally as ‘a mound of water’. The ancient Hawaiians thought that the heart contained water, which is called wai. In the Hawaiian chants, water was always a metaphor for mana or life force. This energy behaved like water.
Although pu’uwai refers to the seat of emotions in Hawai’i today, before western contact the Hawaiians thought that the nā’au (intestines; also a spot 2 inches below the navel) was the seat of all emotions and instinct. But aloha (love) came from the heart and was always thought to flow freely like a spring. Aloha was mana, life force. Pu`uwai also means “to share water,” or life force, spirit.
So let love flow from your pu’uwai to be shared by all you encounter. Love, like water, flows where there is least resistance and can gently rain down on all. And trust your nā’au, for it always knows and can lead the heart.
Mahele nui loa (share with everyone) by clicking on one of the links below.
“Walking, I am listening to a deeper way. Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. Be still, they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands.” –Unknown
