Huna Article

Huna International

The Power of Asking
by Susan Pa'iniu Floyd

As a teacher of Huna, I find myself experiencing many things that give me the opportunity to use Huna and learn even more about the power of directed thoughts. I will often share these experiences in my classes, because examples of using Huna makes learning easier.

Something happened recently with a group of Kino Mana teachers in their final leg of training here on Hawaii island that resulted in some good lessons learned--or re-learned.

There were extra days before and after the official class and I decided to join some parts of that extra time. I don't always have the time or feeling to do this, as experience has shown me it can be challenging to put on the tour guide's hat, but this time I really wanted to go. So I spent 2 days on Kauai and we had so many magical moments I can't even begin to tell you. But that's the joyful part. What I'm about to share is the not so joyful part.

Meeting up in Kona was fun with 3 of us sharing one hotel room at the local hotel and 4 sharing a cottage up the hill on a coffee plantation. The next day we attended Day One of a weekend Hula festival dedicated to the Hula great, Iolani Luahine. It was at a very fancy hotel in Kailua-Kona and was organized by a Hula brother, Keala Ching, and Emcee'd by our Hula teacher, Kawaikapuokalani Hewett. It was the only chance for these students to meet Kawaikapu, even though they would be staying and learning the next week in his home. We attended his Hula class and then in the evening watched a Keiki (children's) Hula Competition. It was awesome and educational. After all was over, we said our goodbyes and went to our respective places to stay.

Once home, one of the students told me that they (all the students) didn't want to attend Day 2 of the event. I was shocked that no one else had mentioned this when we were all together, but now this one student was put in the position to tell me. After the shock wore off, I grew angry at what seemed to me to be disrespectful and ungrateful for the opportunities they were being given. I watched as my anger grew in proportion to my disappointment. They fed each other. I kept my mouth as shut as possible, so as not to go down a path I could not change. I tried to get some sleep, yet I kept envisioning the outcomes of my anger: I could tell them what I was feeling, I could cancel the upcoming class and say I felt they were stupid students or I was a failure as a teacher to not have taught more respect. But when I kept going down that path, I realized, even if I was right, how badly such a righteous action would affect my teachings. Who would want to learn from a teacher like that. Not me! I don't teach so that people will like me. If they do, I'm blessed. I teach to help others learn from my learnings.

In this case, as I lay on the floor right beside my 2 students on the 2 beds, I prayed for release from my anger. I prayed to God, I mentally asked Serge for help from his vast shaman experience, and I prayed that my Hula teacher would never know they didn't want to come back.

As morning arrived, I realized my heart was weightless. I was happy. Shock of all shocks! I don't know how but I know why. Because I had asked. With this happy heart I was able to decide to go to the Hula class and competition and I was definitely going to have fun! My students could go on their own adventures with my blessings.

Spontaneously, two of the students decided to join me. Another one needed to rest and the others I think went shopping. And we spent the next 7 days having so much fun chanting, stretching, singing, studying, visiting Pele and many of her famous and not so famous places, shopping and lomilomi-ing. We cooked and cleaned together, grew closer than ever, and all this would have been missed, if I hadn't asked for help.

Never be too afraid or shy to ASK! And then expect the best; it just might come out even better.

Susan Pa'iniu Floyd is an Alakai of Huna International living in Hawaii.

Copyright Huna International 2018