“Keeper of Hawaii’s Martial Arts Soul” (please share with a friend)

Solomon Kolomona Kaihewalu 1935 – 

“Keeper of Hawaii’s Martial Arts Soul”

‘Olohe, Solomon Kolomona Kaihewalu is a leading exponent of Hawaiian Lua the Hawaiian warrior martial art that focuses on bone breaking, joint locks, throws, pressure point manipulation, strikes, usage of various weapons, battlefield strategy, and open ocean warfare. Grandmaster Kaihewalu is the founder of the Lua Halau O Kaihewalu, an Ancient Hawaiian Self Defense Organization, a unique martial art organization of schools, established in 1955.

Kaihewalu began training in Lua at the age of 3 under his father’s tutelage. His mother, Hawaiian Royalty from Kaua’i, also knew and practiced Lua and Hula. When he was 13 years of age he assisted in the teaching of the secret art to his family bloodline, ultimately graduating to full teaching. He brought these combat life-protecting techniques to the U.S. Military when he served on the Mainland U.S. and in Germany during the 1950’s. He teaches many ancient weapons of the art such as: canoe paddle (Ho’e), knife (Pahi), spear (Ihe), staff (Ko’oko’o), slicing weapons using shark teeth (Lei-O-Mano and Ku’eku’e), strangling cord (Ka’ane) and daggers (single-edged Pahoa and double-edged Maka Pahoa). Training methods include spear catching, training in the surf, and focus of "mana" or life force. This energy is similar to chi or ki in Chinese or Japanese martial arts, with exercises similar to chi kung.

Over the years he has developed his fighting system, and has expanded worldwide. He is the author of Ancient Hawaiian Martial Art of Kaihewalu ‘Ohana Lua, a book that details the techniques of empty hand versus empty hand, empty hand versus weapons, weapons versus weapons, and the history of the Ancient Kapu (forbidden) Art of Hawaiian Lua. The moves of Lua are fluid and sharp – using only a few moves to defend various attacks, armed or unarmed. The system appears to be a form of Hawaiian jujutsu, such as Danzan Ryu Jujutsu, as well as various kempo arts.

Olohe Kaihewalu has developed good working relations with important Hawaii associations including The Hawaii Karate Seinenkai, formed in 1933, and carries on the traditions of significant personages such as Japanese American Sensei Seishiro Okazaki (1890-1951) healer, martial artist, and founder of Danzan Ryu Jujitsu, a complete, integrated martial arts system, combining older styles of jujutsu including Okinawan karate, Chinese kung-fu, Hawaiian Lua, and Filipino knife fighting.

Kaihewalu stresses that Hawaiian Lua is not only a deadly fighting system, but also encompasses love of the land (aina); sea (kai); family (ohana); God (Akua); balance, harmony, and connection with self and nature, with a history stretching back to the ancient times when Lua warriors were commandoes to their chiefs.

He stresses that Lua is as old as the Hawaiian people, and is preserved by the written word, petroglyphs, the art of storytelling and oral tradition, and the commitment of martial arts practitioners.