Outbound Collective logo

3 Steps to Finding your Mana in Hawaii

A spiritual journey worth the wait.

By: Nick Henke + Save to a List

In Hawaiian culture there is this thing called Mana. It's a form of spiritual energy thought to be supernatural in nature, and giving the one experiencing it, an almost out of body experience. There are many ways to find Mana, but I've found it to be the easiest when hiking the rugged terrain that is Hawaii.

I will be giving you 3 tips on how to find your own Mana, by sharing how I found mine.

This all started about a year ago. I went to Hawaii for my spring break trip during my senior year of high school. As luck would have it, my cousin moved there about 6 months prior to me and my family coming out. Naturally I would have an insiders perspective on what were the best hikes to do.

After my trip was over one hike really stood out to me. The Lanikai Pillbox hike. We attempted this hike in the morning, along with 50 other people, to catch the sunrise. It was nothing short of magnificent!


After hearing my cousin talk about "Mana" and what it is, along with knowing that people experience it at different times and places, I thought I had a good concept of what it felt like after doing this hike. But I was dead wrong.

Fast forward 8 months later, and as fate would have it I would be going back to Hawaii to visit my cousin once again. Only this time, alone. We ended up spending 3 days on Kauai during my stay. This is where the story really starts. My cousin and I had the very rare experience of finding our Mana in the exact same place. Hanakaipiai Falls.

This leads me to my first tip.

  • Hike with friends or family, but no more than 2 other people.

We often hear that experiences are better when they are shared. I'd like to think that most of the time this is true, especially in the case of finding Mana. Being with another person really amplifies the affects the hiking experience has on you and the other person as well. I've also found that hiking with too many people seems to ruin the Mana. It seems to dilute it for me. The views always end up being just as beautiful as I imagine, but there is always something missing. 

My second tip is,

  • Always go early!

Going early always helps with the issue of having too many people. It may be hard to set that alarm and get up at 6 a.m. I promise you, it's always going to pay off. My cousin and I started hiking this day around  8 am, which wasn't ideal, but better than any time after that. This gave us plenty of time to hike the 8 mile roundtrip to the waterfall without making us feel rushed. Along with the added bonus of it being cooler outside so we didn't sweat. Going early also helps with what I consider the most important part of finding Mana. Which is arriving at your destination alone. When my cousin and I reached the waterfall we were the only ones there. It was the most dramatic experience of our lives. As soon as we reached the falls we looked at each other and we knew. We found our Mana.


The last tip I'll leave you with is,

  • Hike as much as possible.

Most of the time not everyone will find their Mana in the same place. It takes time and patience. By doing as many hikes as you can you will maximize your chances of being spiritually enlightened. Like I said, it takes time and patience. After hearing other people's Mana stories, I have found that an important part to it is not only the hike, but the whole day itself. 

The journey of finding Mana doesn't start at the trailhead. It starts when you wake you up.

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Do you love the outdoors?

Yep, us too. That's why we send you the best local adventures, stories, and expert advice, right to your inbox.

Related

Watch Amazing Footage of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Liam McNally

Chasing True Adventure in the Hawaiian Islands

Matt Fischer

7 Photos to Convince You That Hiking to Oahu's Lanikai Pillboxes for Sunrise Is Totally Worth It

Abby Shepard

Living in a Dream World: Hawaii through My Eyes

Jayden Croft