In Hawaii, our history and lessons of life are passed down through mo’olelo, or stories. When one story is told to one person, it becomes a different story. When one story is told the a thousands of people, it becomes a thousand different stories. It all depends on what you extract from the stories and look at your own life. Allow me to tell you a story of Kekūhapiʻo and the Niuhi Shark.
Kekūhapiʻo was best known as Kamehameha’s teacher of lua and protector during battles. He spent his childhood learning the art of war, such as spear throwing, boxing, wrestling, and running, by his. His father said, “One who is learning the warlike arts of the land does well to accustom himself to swift running whereas, by speed, the fleeing enemy can be pursued from the battlefield and caught.”
When his father saw that Kekūhapiʻo quickly caught on to these war skills, the father went in search for a teacher who would teach Kekūhapiʻo the art of lua. In time, the father found La’amea, who was famous for teaching warriors and strengthening their bodies for battle. Over time, Kekūhapiʻo became stronger and his teacher La’amea saw the proficiency in his student and became worried that his student might exceed him. So La’amea instructed Kekūhapiʻo’s father to take him to train under his cousin, Koaia.
When Koaia saw Kekūhapiʻo, he turned to his cousin and said:
He is sufficiently well made to prevail in combat and the names of his teachers will live through him for here we see his body full of strength and his opponent will be harmed if he approaches closely. This perhaps will be my last pupil whom I teach and make an adept by eating the eye of the main-eating niuhi share of the ocean.
Again, Kekūhapiʻo became an expert in the art of lua. Koaia taught him everything he knew and decided it was time to put Kekūhapiʻo to the test of showing mastery, through the ailolo ceremony. But in order to begin the ceremony, Kekūhapiʻo was to fight the niuhi shark and eat its eye. If Kekūhapiʻo were to eat the eye of the shark then he would become like a shark on the battlefields.
One of my favorite stories. So instead of getting maybe a black belt in today’s standard, you had to go out into the ocean, fight and kill a shark, and then eat its eye.
Would you sign up for that?
How to Catch the Niuhi Shark
Kekūhapiʻo, Koaia, and a group of men sailed on a double hulled canoe. There were three bundles of pig flesh tied to a line that was fastened to the middle of the canoe. Three of the men in the canoe, stabbed the bundles to allow the grease and smell of the flesh to seep into the ocean. They continued to paddle around the island waiting for the niuhi shark. Then finally, one called out, “E Koaia e, I see something black following just behind our canoe.”
Sure enough, the large black shadow became larger as it came up to the surface. It was the black-bodied shark, and it was right between the canoe hulls chomping at the grease and flesh. They said it was nearly twenty feet long. At that point, Kekūhapiʻo knew it was time to mentally prepare himself to fight the shark.
Before Kekūhapiʻo took action, his teacher mentioned not to be too quick to leap into the fight but instead watch your opponent, and tire him out. This brings up an interesting point for Kekūhapiʻo, because as a child his father taught him the importance of being a swift runner and having the proper stamina.
His teacher also mentioned to study your opponent, there’s no reason to jump into a fight without knowing who your opponent is.
Then lastly, Koaia, said to Kekūhapiʻo, “I only ask of you that you act fearlessly.”
How to capture the niuhi shark:
- Collect the flesh of pig and prepare as though for an imu.
- Wrap flesh in kalo leaves and sprinkle with water, no salt, and then wrap in ki leaves.
- Set bundles away from people’s home and out of each from dogs and other animas to allow the flesh to rot for 5 days.
- Set to the sea, on a double hull canoe with a long piece of wood projecting out from the middle to the front of the canoe, and attach the bundles of flesh on a line as long as the bow.
- Pierce the bundles to release the stinking juices and grease to cover the ocean surface.
- Wait for the sign of the niuhi shark to come from behind the canoe gulping at the grease.
- The shark will come forward in a frenzy and find itself between the hulls closer to the bundle of flesh.
- Men on each side of the canoe holding loops immediately ensnared the shark around its tail and head.
- When the loops are in the right position, the men will pull tightly on the rope with the idea to bend its body and immobilize the shark.
- At that moment, the men will go in for the kill.
How to Catch Your Niuhi Shark, Today
The niuhi shark during ancient times was the last test of the ‘Ailolo Ceremony, the graduation of a warrior, to show his fearlessness and ability of overcoming terror by killing the shark and eating its eye to gain its mana.
Today, the niuhi shark is a symbol for gaining control of one’s life and becoming a stronger person. Your niuhi shark is your struggles, self-doubt, fears, self limitations, and negativity that are acting as barriers towards your true potential, your aspirations and dreams, and becoming Kū.
For many of us, overcoming those fears and self doubts are terrifying. It means we have to bring up things we like to push to the side but are like splinter in your finger you can get rid of.
Part of becoming Kū is becoming fearless, gaining the strength to overcome obstacles, and being in control of your own life. We can take the lessons and stories from ancient times I apply them today to bring us more meaning and value.
How to capture your niuhi shark, and overcome your fears:
Kekūhapiʻo didn’t just wake up one morning and decided he was going to capture the most terrifying shark in the ocean. He had teachers who guided and taught him along the way. He built the strength, physicality, and developed the skills and characteristics of a warrior, which made him the best warrior in Hawaii’s history.
There is no quick fix. It takes time, effort, and practice. Here’s how to get started though:
- Find a coach or mentor: Kekūhapiʻo had mentors who trained him and guided him towards reaching his full potential. Reach out to a person who you highly respect and approaches life in a way you want to. Seems like to much? Well then follow their blog, read their books, like their Facebook page, listen to their interviews, and you will learn about their mindset and approach to life.
- Start writing: You don’t have to become Ernest Hemingway, but just start writing in a journal or typing on your computer. You can write about your thoughts, ideas, and your fears. The purpose is to get things out there and put in a bundle the flesh they used to bait the shark, which was the main prize.
- Don’t rush into it: For example, when it comes to fitness and health. People jump right into it all and tell themselves that they will go to the gym everyday. It lasts about a week before all the excuses start to come up on why you can’t go to the gym. Evaluate what your goal is, and take small steps toward making the necessary changes to make it a lifestyle. Want to start going to the gym more often? Start going twice a week.
- Embrace the fear: As the shark swam in between the canoe, the men had to stay calm and act without any hesitation. If one man hesitated, the shark had a potential of escaping or even worse capsizing the canoe. While you become stronger by breaking own the small fears and self doubts, that big fear will show its face. That’s when your real training comes into play. You have to ask yourself, are you physically, mentally, and spiritually strong enough and prepared to defeat the opponent.
- Have a support system: It wasn’t just Kekūhapiʻo who captured the shark. It took a group effort in overcoming fear and showing that you are stronger. Be mindful of your surroundings. Things become difficult when you lack a support system. Everyone who overcame great obstacles, had some sort of support system in their lives.
- Eat the eye of your opponent: Figuratively speaking of course. But when you do overcome obstacles and fears, and achieve your goals and aspirations, ‘eat the eye’ and embody the mana.
Time is now to start training yourself and becoming stronger. Equip yourself with the necessary tools and surround yourself with people who lift you up. If you are looking for a shift in your life that’ll bring more meaning, value, and strength, then you must be willing to create changes.
You sat around long enough thinking and pondering on when you should start, the canoe is still at the dock and your journey is waiting for you.
We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
-Joseph Campbell
Mahalo and Keep it Kū.
