The two main fixtures in ancient Hawaiian medicine are the healer (Kahuna lapa'au) and his way of healing. All Kahuna lapa'au incorporated the use of medicinal plants (La'au Lapa'au) as well as what they believed to be other healing techniques into their craft. Before traditional medicine was introduced to the Islands via colonization and even for some time after, the Kahuna lapa'au were held in high esteem as their profession was well respected as the end all for illnesses experienced by locals.

What is a Kahuna lapa'au?
A Kahuna lapa'au in ancient Hawaiian culture and even to some Hawaiians today is a healer who was considered as spiritually anointed by a higher force to practice healing. This healer uses prayer, herbs, love and touch to heal the sick. The herbs used by the Kahuna lapa'au are medicinal plants called La'au Lapa'au. They use these plants as well as other measures mirroring those of conventional medicine to practice healing. It is also widely documented that the Kahuna lapa'au not only had healing powers but also had the capacity to remove life from a being with the power of prayer. It is not certain if the removal of life was a form of euthanasia for a dying individual or witchcraft to take the life of another in a purely conditional sense.

Understanding the role of the Kahuna lapa'au in ancient Hawaiian medicine
Kahuna lapa'au were very well respected before and even after colonization because their profession held much prestige and exclusivity. In order to become a Kahuna lapa'au, one had to first be identified as a child who was blessed with the healing powers or spirit and then they had to train for extensive periods, some even up to 20 years. They were trained specifically in diagnosing disease, identifying medicinal plants, properly pairing treatment with disease and in even surgical procedures and autopsies. Like medical doctors today, the Kahuna lapa'au were the healers of their time and they were not seen by those who sought help from them as practitioners of black magic.

What is La'au Lapa'au?
La'au Lapa'au are ancient Hawaiian remedies, some of them still relevant today. Although the practice of using herbs to cure illnesses did not start in Hawaii, these islands made a tremendous contribution to today's pharmaceutical industry and their investigation of plant extractions. In order to be put in a position to determine what are La'au Lapa'au, ancient Hawaiian healers would have to study for years the different types of plants and their specific contribution to the healing process.

La'au Lapa'au that were used for healing

Ti leaves and Taro plant
In today's Hawaii, Ti leaves are popularly used to make beautiful leis but these plants are deeply rooted in the Hawaiian culture as the leaves were also used to reduce fever. The leaves were dipped in water then placed on the patient's body which was then covered with a sheet to reduce chilling. The taro plant (leaves, stems and roots) has culinary uses worldwide; it is also used in some cultures (particularly in Hawaii and South Korea) as a remedy for insect bites. The leaves and stem are rubbed over insect bites to relive pain.

Awa (Piper methysticum)
Awa plant can be used as a pain and headache remedy in low doses and as a sedative in high doses. The root is crushed to make a drink. When the drink is taken in high doses by a patient; it causes sedation with the loss of sensation. This type of sedation mirrors anesthesia and can be dangerous since the conditions under which the remedy was given were not controlled. Recent studies have found that Awa root can indeed be used as a sedative but preliminary studies have implicated the root in causing severe liver damage. The leaves and flowers of the Awa plant are crushed and placed on pained areas to reduce the pain sensation to the area; this remedy provides a numbing effect. A low dose Awa root drink is used overtime to reduce headaches.

Mamaki (Pipturus albidus)
The Mamaki shrub is endemic to Hawaii and is a flowering plant with many medicinal benefits. Some of these include reduction of high blood pressure, cholesterol, stress and fatigue as well as the removal of toxins from the body. The leaves may be used to make a tea or the berries the plant produces may be eaten. Mamaki berries and leaves have also been known to cause the relaxation of the uterine muscles during labor.

'Olena (Curcuma domestica) or Turmeric
Olena is widely used as a spice, the leaves are used to make curry powder but this plant has a mountain of medicinal uses. Its medicinal use is very prominent in Ayurvedic (ancient Indian medicine) and ancient Hawaiian medicine. An extract of the root is used to relieve earaches and to clear up sinuses. Olena has also been indicated as a remedy for tuberculosis, bronchitis, asthma, colds and facial pimples. This plant may also be used as a diuretic as well as to stop bleeding.

'Alaea
Although 'Alaea is not a herb or plant is also widely used in ancient Hawaiian medicine because of its richness in minerals. 'Alaea is Hawaiian sea salt and was used as a remedy for patients with anemia since it is rich in iron oxide an essential mineral for increasing the blood count of patients that may have low blood count due to blood loss or other causes.

Ho'omaemae
Ho'omaemae also is not a herb or plant but it is a sea water cleanser used in ancient Hawaiian medicine to bathe a sick patient in the efforts to remove the sickness from the body. It was not always clear what the sickness was but Ho'omaemae was used widely in mystery illnesses. Ho'omaemae can also be used in combination with other remedies such as Mamaki tea to provide a widespread well-being of patients. Ho'omaemae was used more for maintenance of the health of patients rather than in severe illnesses.

The ancient forms of Hawaiian medicine have been proven useful in recent years. The once condemned practice has shown significant promise in treating a wide range of ailments from minor to more severe issues. The application of herbs and other extracts has raised the credibility of the ancient techniques, many of which have been subject to scientific scrutiny. Despite the ancient people's limited knowledge, they developed a form of medicine that was potent enough to garner positive results and effective enough to influence modern treatments.

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