Mana is divinely-given power and authority. All of life possesses mana to some degree.

Hawaiians believe there are two different types of mana, or supernaturally endowed powers. One is a generalized, diffuse mystic power; the other, a specific talent or aptitude for anything from hula dancing, chanting, singing, guitar-playing and story-telling, to making adzes (tools), lauhala mats, `ukulele, and kapa (bark cloth).

Wealth? Material possessions?

No.

The most respected and admired bards, prophets, priests, crafters, and teachers had little material wealth and few possessions.

What they did possess was mana : supernaturally bestowed power. Not so much the authoritative power of royalty, rather the specialized talent that was a divinely-given gift.

The mana of skill carried with it an obligation; to learn, train and work at the divinely-given ability; to improve the talent.

For non-use or neglect, as surely as wrong use of mana, would result in lost mana.

The kahuna, who healed or counseled, would eventually lose the ability to heal if patients were neglected. The crafter who slid into "sloppy" work would eventually lose the "touch".

And having lost skill, and consequently, value to others, a person's own value was diminished in his/her eyes.3

In modern-day Hawai`i, many native sons and daughters -- keiki hânau o ka `âina (children born of the land) were brain-washed into believing the "superior-ness" of the dominant (Western) culture and the "less-ness" of their own. We are awakening. Awakening to our power. Our mana.

Those fortunate to have been exposed to both Hawaiian and Western modes are now making, based on personal experiences, conscious choices as to where true happiness and power - mana - lies. Many are learning that while Western thinking, values, and ways may lead to external power, mana - inner power - is diminished, if not lost, at its expense.

Mana is not to be found by the victor of the rat-race, where money is made and power is gained at the expense and exploitation of others. The quest for conspicuous, wasteful consumerism leads to greed and complacency, and a diminishing of mana. The disregard of the sacredness of the land and of people cuts off mana.

Dismayed and disillusioned by their first-hand experiences, many have learned (or are learning) a valuable lesson: external power attained by Western means is superficial and illusory. Many are returning to what gives them real and meaningful power, an inner power that lasts a lifetime and on to the next, which can also be passed on to the next generations: mana.

Mana, that is neither bought nor sold, but earned with the help of those in our lives, in this dimension and others. Mana-filled, we now populate our islands in ever-growing numbers -- and the world-at-large.

Mana comes through in our hula, our songs and chants, our language, and in our social, cultural, and political awareness. It is palpable. Feel it. It is real. It is what counts in life. Most of all, mana once again resides in our beings, our hearts and souls, where NO ONE can take it away, this, our most treasured of gifts.

Sources:

In keeping with the above `ôlelo no`eau (proverb, words of wisdom). here are more/other on-line thoughts on mana for your perusal and consideration: