kahuna
Sign in to savethumb|Priest conducting religious ceremony honoring the Hawaiian god Lono in Waimānalo, Hawaii|Waimanalo, Hawaii Kahuna (; ) is a Hawaiian word that refers to an expert in any field. Historically, it has been used to refer to doctors, surgeons and dentists, as well as priests, ministers, and sorcerers.
Article
7 sectionsContents
- Background
- ''Kahuna nui''
- Legal status
- Non-Hawaiian uses
- See also
- References
- Bibliography
thumb|Priest conducting religious ceremony honoring the Hawaiian god Lono in Waimānalo, Hawaii|Waimanalo, Hawaii Kahuna (; ) is a Hawaiian word that refers to an expert in any field. Historically, it has been used to refer to doctors, surgeons and dentists, as well as priests, ministers, and sorcerers.
== Background == A may be versed in agriculture, canoe building, or any other skill or knowledge area. The term itself kahuna, literally means "keeper of hidden knowledge". It is derived from the word kahu, meaning "caretaker", and huna, meaning "secret". The secrecy over their knowledge has been described as being similar to the Freemasons and the guild masters of medieval Europe. People who came from outside Hawaii distorted and stereotyped the term as a witch or wizard. They may be called on by the community to bless new buildings and construction projects, or to officiate weddings.