Aloha kakou! My name is Kamea. I'm an aspiring midwife who is committed on coming back home to dedicate my services to our community. I wasn't raised in the 'aina and I wasn't fortunate to grow up hearing the old stories or learning the ways of my kupuna, but the connection to my roots are just as deep as if I had been. I am fortunate to have an opportunity to learn from this community of strong intelligent wahine. Many things discussed here have inspired me to look even deeper within myself, to question and test my capacities, and to finally make the decision to go forward on this journey. Mahalo nui.
At the moment I'm trying to find information on our traditional practices and protocols as I think this would be important for me to understand. So far I have 2 la'au lapa'au books which discusses some remedies and applications of certain plants, a book on ho'oponopono, and both volumes of Nana I Ke Kumu. Although a wealth of information, I realize that this is really just a glimpse of what I'm missing. I would be happy if you can suggest anything for me to read.
I recently found an excerpt on native midwifery from a book by Oswald Bushnell titled, "The Gifts of Civilization: Germs and Genocide in Hawaii" in a chapter called "The Native Medical Profession". Although there is obvious bias in this writing which exposes many misconceptions about our culture, it provided some interesting information I didn't have before. Here is a link for those of you who are interested in reading it. It starts on page 72:
http://books.google.com/books?id=pKBhBxgKxs8C&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74&dq=la'au+lapa'au+midwifery&source=web&ots=Qv06qA350H&sig=Be2gg9y9BILy__GCiP3K1mKGplc&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result#PPA72,M1
Please let me know what you think about this excerpt or if you have any advice or suggestions you'd like to give on what other books to read or sites to check out. I'm also very interested in more mo'olelo about Haumea but I've mostly found the information on New Age sites or books which sort of made me cringe.
I also have Ka Mo'olelo O Hi'iakaikapoliopele to read. For some reason I believe it is an important resource for nourishing my spirit.
Well, mahalo nui loa for listening to me rant and I hope all is maika'i with you and your loved ones.
~*Kamea*~
You need to be a member of maoliworld to add comments!
Aloha Kamea --
Here's my mana'o, for what it's worth:
The path to midwifery can be kind of simple. There are so many wahine who need help, love and support. Give this freely, and the path will open. Traditionally, I believe that this was the way it was done. Support other midwives whose values you agree with, traditional or not. You will learn from them, and those who have knowledge to share will start to seek you out. The path of midwifery is rough -- lots of sacrifice, resistance, spiritual battles, blame, struggles, all kine. Plus you become committed to the mamas you are bonded to, and must be willing to give up everything to be there for them when the time comes. It's worth it, but not easy. A real midwife should give without hesitation -- I don't judge those who charge money, but I also don't really respect those who will only work for money, to tell the truth. Anyways, I know I have strong opinions; take them for what they're worth, and many many blessings on the path!
Mahalo nui loa Laulani! Your mana'o is priceless and precious to me. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to respond but I have limited access to the internet at this time. I agree with you about the charging. For me it's not at all about making a profit. Anyway, I have to go but I would love to continue this conversation. Mahalo!
You are hours and hours ahead from us, and have a great advantage to getting on-line*lol*.
Hope I'm not being niele, but I just wanted to ask you some questions, and then give you some feedback as to the current situation on the midwifery circle here. I have lived on three of our beautiful islands, and gave birth at home on two of those (Hawaii Island and Kauai).
I am 42 years old, and had my last son, Laua'e (birthed on the aina/in the elements) VBAC and Lotus Birth. Are you familiar with Lotus Birth? My birth circle here consisted of a primary midwife; lomilomi practitioner; music/hypnotherapist;cranial sacral therapist; indigo children educator and advocate, and many other beautiful women that are from the community.
How long have you been interested in midwifery?
Are you a laymidwife, certified, or licensed? Not a big deal about the palapala...I have tons of laymidwife friends.
When you move home to Hawaii, which island are you hoping to settle on?
Are you interested in coming to Kauai to meet our community of women that do Sacred Birthing?
***Check out Sunni Karll's book, "Sacred Birthing" (she was my midwife) or website: www.sacredbirthing.com
How did I get so lucky???? We'll save that for another conversation.
I would love to kokua you in anyway that you need help with your inspirational life choice. It is really something for our own women to pursue midwifery. I will do whatever is in my power to share resources....mahalo for hearing that kahea.
Looking forward to your reply,
lorilani
I would love to hear "your story"....however, e-mail me: Lorilanikeohokalole@yahoo.com
Aloha e Lorilani. No being niele at all! Sorry it's taken so long to respond, I have no internet at home anymore and so use the library computer when I can. My time is almost up here and have to go but will be back to talk story. Mahalo!
aloha mai kamea...
my name is lorilani and i started this hui many moonsago. e kala mai for deserting it, and not malama-ing it for awhile. i feel really badly thati let the hui "go"....however, had a wonderful birth in october, and life happened. i will share my birth story in another strand.
when are you returning home?
i have info for you...we should talk.
baby is needing me so kala mai........gotta go, lorilani
Replies
Here's my mana'o, for what it's worth:
The path to midwifery can be kind of simple. There are so many wahine who need help, love and support. Give this freely, and the path will open. Traditionally, I believe that this was the way it was done. Support other midwives whose values you agree with, traditional or not. You will learn from them, and those who have knowledge to share will start to seek you out. The path of midwifery is rough -- lots of sacrifice, resistance, spiritual battles, blame, struggles, all kine. Plus you become committed to the mamas you are bonded to, and must be willing to give up everything to be there for them when the time comes. It's worth it, but not easy. A real midwife should give without hesitation -- I don't judge those who charge money, but I also don't really respect those who will only work for money, to tell the truth. Anyways, I know I have strong opinions; take them for what they're worth, and many many blessings on the path!
You are hours and hours ahead from us, and have a great advantage to getting on-line*lol*.
Hope I'm not being niele, but I just wanted to ask you some questions, and then give you some feedback as to the current situation on the midwifery circle here. I have lived on three of our beautiful islands, and gave birth at home on two of those (Hawaii Island and Kauai).
I am 42 years old, and had my last son, Laua'e (birthed on the aina/in the elements) VBAC and Lotus Birth. Are you familiar with Lotus Birth? My birth circle here consisted of a primary midwife; lomilomi practitioner; music/hypnotherapist;cranial sacral therapist; indigo children educator and advocate, and many other beautiful women that are from the community.
How long have you been interested in midwifery?
Are you a laymidwife, certified, or licensed? Not a big deal about the palapala...I have tons of laymidwife friends.
When you move home to Hawaii, which island are you hoping to settle on?
Are you interested in coming to Kauai to meet our community of women that do Sacred Birthing?
***Check out Sunni Karll's book, "Sacred Birthing" (she was my midwife) or website: www.sacredbirthing.com
How did I get so lucky???? We'll save that for another conversation.
I would love to kokua you in anyway that you need help with your inspirational life choice. It is really something for our own women to pursue midwifery. I will do whatever is in my power to share resources....mahalo for hearing that kahea.
Looking forward to your reply,
lorilani
I would love to hear "your story"....however, e-mail me: Lorilanikeohokalole@yahoo.com
my name is lorilani and i started this hui many moonsago. e kala mai for deserting it, and not malama-ing it for awhile. i feel really badly thati let the hui "go"....however, had a wonderful birth in october, and life happened. i will share my birth story in another strand.
when are you returning home?
i have info for you...we should talk.
baby is needing me so kala mai........gotta go, lorilani
I won't be returning for about 4 years but I hope to visit until then and take workshops or apprentice or something when I go.
Mahalo e malama pono.