Limu kala, Sargassum echinocarpum, was once common in the shallow coastal waters of Hawaiʻi. It is an edible seaweed, and also is used in medicine and ritual. “Kala” means to loosen, forgive, free, and to pardon. Because of this it is used in ceremony to free a person from sickness, and in prayers for forgiveness. One way to do this is to fashion a lei of limu kala and wear it into the ocean while praying. The waves loosen and carry the lei away, and the patient is freed of the affliction.
We have found an old video of Uncle Felward wearing a lei kala at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau. He graciously took the time to tell us a little about the lei. It is one of the video collection we will upload to this site. Watch for it here!
