"Mystic Valley and Stephanie Kusmer, you should be ashamed of yourselves for calling the police. And yes, it IS Racist for white people to try and use police force against people of color for engaging in completely LEGAL and friendly acts of sharing resources. Good job for proving all of my points."

~A.J. Bryce - mixed Native Hawaiian in response to MVʻs attempt to have police remove them from the sidewalk, on Nov. 10th, while politely offering passerbyʻs free factual information on Huna and Hawaii

View the Flyer we passed out.

On Nov. 7th, I learned of a workshop claiming to offer spiritual guidence inspired by "Hawaiians". The title of this workshop is "The Healing Power of Huna - An Introduction to Hawaiian Spirituality & Practice with Stephanie Kusmer." 

Itʻs Description (and I have bolded the statements I find most problematic): @ Mystic Valley. $15 investment. Please contact Mystic Valley (314) 645 - 3336 to purchase advance tickets or you can purchase a ticket at the door that day. 

"After a trip to the Big Island I became immersed in learning about the ancient Hawaiin magick of the Kahunas and how it can be applied to our lives today. This ancient Hawaiin philosophy and practice can assist us in shifting our paradigm to empower ourselves as individuals and also to come from a place of compassion instead of competition to heal ourselves as a group mind and as eternal beings. 

We will explore the native Hawaiin view on our energetic bodies and how our minds actually manifest our reality. We will discuss how their ancient practices can be applied to ourselves today to assist us in empowering our own healing mentally, physically and spiritually. The basic philosophy of the kahunas is while you cannot change the course of the seasons, you can change the course of events you personally experience during those seasons by altering your thinking. Also, we will touch on The Process of Ho'oponopono and how we can practice it in our daily lives. Ho'oponopono essentially means to make it right with the ancestors, or to make right with the people with whom you have relationships. 

Aloha!"

Stephanie is NOT Hawaiian, and claims authority in this subject, enough to charge $15/person for this so called " native Hawaiin view on our energetic bodies" when Huna is actually (and FACTUALLY) a colinial construct developed as a religious system by an American Novelist who claims to have received insight or information from another white american who refered to Hawaiians as "an inferior race", and N****ʻs.

I reached out to Stephanie in an attempt to settle this matter respectfully. This is what I said:

"Iʻm sorry, but this is painfully incorrect and appropriative. 

First, Huna is not a Native Hawaiian philosophy. It was developed by Max Freedom Long, an american novelist and new age author in 1936, based off ideas from William Tufts Brigham, a racist who reffered to Hawaiians as "an inferior race". 

Second, Kahunaʻs were Hawaiians that excelled in many professions, including healing practices, but definitely not exclusive too. 

To charge money and take a profit from people by claiming you can teach them ancient Hawaiian healing practices while feeding them false information is wrong.

I strongly encourage you to rethink your workshop and do some critical research before continuing to falsely appropriate indigenous cultures for profit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huna_(New_Age)#Relationship_to_traditional_Hawaiian_beliefs"

Most of Stephanieʻs responses were defensive or passive, and claimed to "Love Hawaiians" instead of even acknowledging the facts, or ever asking why it was offensive. She once even told one of my supporters to "STFU" or "Shut the Fuck Up"

 

If youʻre the type that prefers to wade through the whole dialogue, you can view it here.

But here are some of the responses I just canʻt get out of my head (Feel free to view the ENTIRE conversation for complete context above).

 Stephanie Kusmer
"I've done this workshop several times in the St. Louis area and it was very well received. No one was offended."


" I know of no native Hawaiians here in my Midwest town that have offered a look into this topick but would happily here what Ms. Kismer has to share." Gary C. Foree, SK & MV Supporter
uhhh... if this huna is really an "ancient hawaiian spirituality and practice", have you ever asked yoruself why no Hawaiians are looking into the "topick"?

"Yes, I am very dismissive of this whole issue. It is a non issue to most of us here." Larry Brown 
Except for the tons of folks who said "This is an issue!" (see full dialogue if you will)

""You can pass out your information outside and I'm sorry but this workshop is not a forum for you. You will need to find your own space to have your own class or workshop"

Stephanie Kusmer in response to my request for 15min of space during her workshop to voice why I feel Huna is appropriative. 

"If you really want to make a differace in your culture I would recommend moving to the home land, working in a school, and maybe helping solve the problem of are oceans dying..." Gary C. Foree, SK & MV Supporter

"You all are a bunch of bullies ans whiners. Everytime I hit fb its an attack.She has tried to accommodate your analness. If y'a dont like her class get ur own going. ...move/love on. Get a life ....attack of the bitches. Inow expect the same thing...busy bodies... damn" SK & MV Supporter

I also contacted the business hosting this event, Mystic Valley, and asked them not to support this workshop. 

View the message I sent to Mystic Valley.

The response I got was "If you donʻt like it, donʻt go." And a shutting down of any more communication.

" I guess if you don't like the work shop she is facilitating then you shouldn't attend. I am formally requesting that you do not send me anymore letters .... Have a nice day." Ed McCallister. (this was after sending MV only 1 letter stating my concerns and the facts.)

If you find Stephanie Kusmer and Mystic Valleys Profiting off Hawaiian culture at the expense of Hawaiian culture offensive, please let them know. Stephanie has assured me that no one is offended. If thatʻs true then we can all sit silent.

Itʻs not true for me, or other Hawaiians, so I canʻt.

Here are some things you can do:

1. Sign This Petition!

2. Voice your concerns in reviews, like google, yelp, yahoo, and other review based networks.

3. Share your concerns with the Venue by messaging them on their FB page (FB search Mystic Valley), calling them (314) 645 - 3336, or if youʻre local, drop in personally here: 7241 Manchester Road Maplewood, MO 63143

And if Mystic Valley chooses to host this event (which at this point they have expressed they will:

4. Meet me at Mystic Valley (7241 Manchester Road Maplewood, MO 63143) on Sunday at 1:30 to peacefully protest and stand in solidarity with me against this act of cultural appropiation against indigenous Hawaiian people. (Protest Already happened. Read update below.)

5. Boycott business that support cultural appropriation (in this case, Mystic Valley)

 

What is "Huna" and is it "Hawaiian"?

Huna on Wikipedia, for a brief synopsis

Huna, Max Freedom Long, and the Idealization of William Brigham

What is Cultural Appropriation?

Cultural Exchange vs. Appropriation

Who is Max Freedom Long:
Max Freedom Lon - Wikipedia

more info about Hawaiians views on the practice of "Huna" here:
"Hawaiian at Heart" and other fictions ~ Lisa Kahaleole Hall
Huna is not Hawaiian 

Maoliworld Discussion on Huna

12 pages of  comments, most of which are from Hawaiians, on their views of "Huna"

11/10 Protest update: Hello Officer, would you like some Free info on Hawaii?

Thanks so much tomy friends for standing with me against Mystic Valley, Stephanie Kusmer, and their supporters of the cultural appropriation of Hawaiians.

We got to MV about 30 min before the workshop with our flyers, stood politely out of folks way, and simply asked them if they would like some free information on Hawaii. Many patrons accepted and read them, others did not.

The response we received for our Peaceful advocacy of free factual resources was, you guessed it folks. The Cops. (mind you, no one from the store even attempted to come out and have a conversation with me first)

The officer explained to me that the renters of the property did not want me there, and had called them to have me leave. I reminded that the sidewalk outside of the business was actually not a part of their rental, but owned by whatever company owned the strip mall. Also, that I had just had lunch in the subway 2 doors down in the same complex, and so I was a patron and had a right to be there. He didnʻt accept my offer to see the receipt, however just reminded me of some ground rules.

1. You canʻt set foot inside the store. Got it, wasnʻt gonna.

2. You canʻt harrass people. Hey, I already told the owners I wouldnʻt. 

And then they left, and we continue to hand out flyers for 2 1/2 hours. 

Stephanie never made it out for a discussion, altho I did speak with 2 customers, 1 who was disgusted with SK & MV, and another who thought I was wrong.

Today I stood up for something. I held my ground, I knew my shit, and I learned some new things about who my friends are, and that true enlightenment might be on the sidewalk, for free, instead of a product for sale inside.