Hawaiian Prayer For The Departed

This Hawaiian prayer for the departed is called the “Pu`olo,” and it is a beautiful and moving way to honor your loved ones who have passed on. Check out the hawaiian funeral songs and what to do when someone dies in hawaii.

It’s a well known fact that humans are social creatures, but often times this is taken for granted. Our world has been pushed forward thanks to the help of others. The Hawaiian Prayer For The Departed is a plea for forgiveness and peace amongst the living. While written in different stone carvings, it never changed its original intent.

The word “Pu`olo” means “to call up” or “to summon back.” This prayer calls upon the departed’s spirit to return from the underworld, where they may be in a state of confusion, to help guide their loved ones through this time of transition.

This prayer is traditionally sung at funerals and memorial services, but it can also be used as an invocation for yourself or others who have lost someone close to them.

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Hawaiian Prayer For The Departed

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Planning a memorial service, including mapping out the details, may have you feeling overwhelmed. Even so, planning a ceremony that’s special and culturally significant to your late loved one can be easily achieved with readings and music. 

If your loved one was of Hawaiian heritage, there are some unique considerations to make it a Hawaiian funeral. On the other hand, sharing Hawaiian funeral poems or ones related to Hawaii can be a nice addition to any ceremony.

COVID-19 tip: If you’re planning a virtual funeral using a service like GatheringUs, you can still share your poems with your online guests. Coordinate with your planning team, make sure you have the right mics and speakers, and send online guests digital funeral programs with the full poems.

Hawaiian Funeral Songs

As you may know, Hawaiians are a spiritual group and many subscribe to Christianity. However, other Hawaiian customs throughout history incorporated deep beliefs in many gods, even household gods. Many Hawaiians believe in the interconnectivity between the earth, the ocean, the sun, and the moon.

Native Hawaiians are descendants of people from nearby Asian and Pacific islands, referred to as Polynesians. They are also known as powerful orators and chanters. This aspect of their heritage still exists today. With some determination and further research, you can even read many of the following poems in Hawaiian. You or a loved one may already speak the language already.  

Poems are a fitting way to express grief and begin the healing process at any funeral, especially Hawaiian funerals. However, Hawaiians traditionally do so through song and dance, particularly the hula. 

The hula can be performed anywhere the service is held, such as at a church, the beach, or a private family home. You may consider organizing a hula to be performed during or after your poetry reading.

So where did the hula come from? Hula was an ancient way that Hawaiians worshipped their gods, typically in a temple. The different movements in hula represent a special story of war, friendship, or grief, among others.

It used to be the custom that kahunas, or priests, danced the hula, and it was only reserved for special rituals in front of kings. Now, of course, the hula is performed by family and friends during funerals. It’s also possible to experience variations of the hula in more casual, celebratory settings. 

Since many Hawaiians also have Christian, even Catholic beliefs, however, the hula is no longer limited to just native Hawaiians. You may see close family dance as a sign of respect at Catholic funerals as well. In fact, the Vatican (headquarters of the Catholic Church) legalized hula and other art expressions for Mass. 

Uplifting Poems for a Hawaiian Funeral

Funeral poems are a meaningful way to connect the past and present customs of any group and feel more unified with your guests and loved ones. You’re all there to not only pay respects and honor someone who has passed but also begin the healing journey together. 

The right words may be difficult to find during this time. Here are some uplifting poems for a Hawaiian funeral. You can also use these poems to fuel inspiration for other writings, such as commemorative speeches or eulogies. 

1. “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou

Even in the darkest times of one’s life, the ability to rise against adversity is even more powerful and transformative. This is a classic uplifting poem that should resonate with all ages. 

2. “For Keeps” by Joy Harjo

This poem incorporates elements of nature as well as romantic undertones. It would be appropriate for a wife or husband to share about their late spouse. 

3. “Aloha” by Char Kia‘i Mansfield

This poem explores the Hawaiian word and concept of “aloha” which has endless meanings, according to the author.

4. “Do Not Stand By My Grave and Weep” by Mary Elizabeth Frye

Though this poem is incredibly emotional, it asserts that a deceased loved one is everywhere — in the wind and in the stars. Hawaii is known for having a stunning natural landscape, so you can experience a loved one’s presence in this way. 

5. “Prayer for Serenity” by Reinhold Niebuhr

This poem-like prayer highlights the power of accepting hard truths and trusting God.

6. “Aloha Oe” by Don Blanding

“Aloha Oe” also explores the different meanings of “aloha” and how polarizing they can be. It can be interpreted as uplifting or more somber.

7. “Hawaiian Love Song” by Kleber Wing

This is an uplifting poem that celebrates Hawaii as well as the love you may feel for another person.

8. “There Is Nothing Purer Than That” by Rupi Kaur

Rupi Kaur describes the power of taking all the pain the world inflicts upon us and turning it into gold. 

9. “Have You Earned Your Tomorrow” by Edgar Guest

It’s common and expected to examine your own life and choices after experiencing loss. This poem causes readers to do exactly this.  

10. “A Hui Hou Kākou (Until We Meet Again)” by J. Lohr

The author of this poem is writing this to the islands of Hawaii. However, the message of “until we meet again” can also apply to the passing of loved ones.

11. “Holding” by Washington Gladden

The author describes holding onto things that “cannot fail,” despite being beaten around by waves and emotions. This is a beautiful poem to share if the setting of your service takes place overlooking the ocean. 

12. “My Journey’s Just Begun” by Ellen Brenneman

Depending on your beliefs, it may seem difficult to not see death as the end. However, the author views it as though the earth is just part one.

hawaiian funeral sayings

Sad Poems for a Hawaiian Funeral

Would you like to incorporate a mix of uplifting and sad poems? These poems may also be appropriate to read at another Hawaiian funeral event, such as a traditional paddle out ceremony. 

You may also be interested in researching traditional Hawaiian chants, often delivered at paddle out ceremonies and other significant events. These chants are called olis (orations) or meles (songs). In fact, a particular one, called mele oli, is performed at both funerals and at birth as it can take on many meanings. 

The intent of these chants also comes down to their tone and delivery. This is much like a poetry reading. Many of the poem examples we’ve provided may elicit opposite emotions — for example, they make you feel grateful, even if the subject revolves around loss. 

On that note, delivering a sad poem at the ceremony may be particularly emotional. It may be wise to rehearse your delivery or have another loved one share the poem if you’re unable. You may also be interested in this post about how to scatter ashes in Hawaii in a meaningful way.  

13. “Surf Upon My Tears” by John Jordan

Though not directly about death or loss, this is a sad poem because the writer talks about the Hawaiian landscape as well as the experience of surfing upon his tears.

14. “Acquainted with the Night” by Robert Frost

Robert Frost’s poem discusses night and nothingness in this poem. It also evokes feelings of isolation. 

15. “’Tis a Fearful Thing” by Yehuda HaLevi

This emotional poem discusses the power and the sorrow associated with being human as well as the holiness of loving, dreaming, and believing.

16. “God Saw You Getting Tired” by Frances and Kathleen Coelho

The process of losing a loved one may be sudden or drawn out. This poem describes how the authors saw a loved one slipping away. The ending provides a feeling of some peace, as it states, “God only takes the best.”

17. “Song [When I am dead, my dearest]” by Christina Rossetti

This poem discusses sensations a deceased person will never have again. It also explores the intense emotions associated with the experience of not only forgetting, but also being forgotten.

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We meet this day to remember those who have gone before us.

They were our teachers, our friends, and our family members. Some of them we knew for a long time and some for only a short time. They all left us with a gift: their wisdom.

We gather here to honor the memory and spirit of those who have passed on. We gather together in peace, love, and harmony with each other so that we may be strengthened by the love they gave us while they were here with us on earth.

May their spirits continue to watch over us as they now rest among the many gods of Hawaii.

How Native Hawaiians View Death and Dying

About 63 percent of Hawaiians are Christian, according to Pew Research. Twenty-six percent of Hawaiians are not affiliated with any religious belief system. At a Christian funeral, the funeral is often at a church. Mourners bury the body in a casket and then share a meal. 

Christian beliefs focus on one God and the afterlife — good deeds in this life reward the deceased with eternal happiness. 

Native Hawaiians worshipped many gods. Where the soul goes after death depends on the god a person worships. For example, those who worshipped the sun god went in the direction of the sun. Hawaiians who worshipped the moon god went in the direction of the moon. 

Yet, some souls don’t leave earth. These are wandering spirits, or laper, and the living fear them. Hawaiians can pray for the dead to stay away or return. Spirits can also help with revenge or protection. Some people worship them as unihipili, or household gods. These superstitions are still followed by many Hawaiians.

Conclusion

Have you heard the old saying, “bless your mess”?

No matter what kind of mess you’ve gotten yourself into, blessing it is the way out.

The act of blessing releases a high-vibrational energy into the situation at hand, letting things flow and re-arrange into a higher order.

Condemnation and criticism, however, restricts the flow of energy, causing events and people to stagnate and become stuck.

This is the meaning of the Biblical instruction, “Bless, and curse not.”  It is practical spiritual wisdom that you and I can use to rid ourselves of our messes.

The Hawaiian “Death” Prayer is rather unfortunately named because it has nothing to do with death.  Rather, it is a powerful blessing prayer.

The reason it is called a “death” prayer is that it brings to a close that which is no longer wanted. You can’t (repeat: CAN’T) use the prayer to bump someone off because, I have already said, it is not about actual death.  But you can use it to bring about closure for the highest good of all concerned.  The prayer goes like this:

I bless you and I release you
I bless you and I release you
I bless and release myself from you

Don’t let its simplicity fool you: this is a powerhouse of a prayer and whatever circumstance you use it on will leave your life – always for the highest good of all.

I have used this prayer to rid myself of a troublesome ex, unwanted attention, several jobs, friendships that had run their course, and difficult clients.

IT WORKS FOR OTHER PEOPLE, TOO

I have shared this prayer with others, with good results.  For example, a friend reported being unhappy that her neighbours played loud music during the day, which she could hear from her apartment.  My friend worked from home, so the loud music disturbed her peace and creativity.

I gave her the Hawaiian Death Prayer to use on the situation, telling her that the highest outcome would follow, but that we wouldn’t know beforehand what the highest outcome would be.

The next time I heard from her, she reported that in a short space of time the noisy couple had broken up; the male partner had moved out, leaving the female, un-noisy partner in the apartment.  After this dramatic turn of events, harmony was again restored in the building.

Remember, my friend wasn’t praying for the couple to break up or for anyone to move out.  She was simply blessing and releasing them and the highest outcome naturally followed.

This truly is one of the most powerful prayers I have ever used.  The next time you have a situation you want to release yourself from, give the Hawaiian Death Prayer a try and watch with wonder what occurs.

Let me know your results because I am always fascinated at how things right themselves in the wake of this prayer.