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Why is the association named Kahuna Training Guild?

'As leading experts, kahuna were cultural counterparts of the guildmasters and priests of Mediaeval Europe. Beyond serving as the leading practitioner of his craft or profession, each acted as an interface between his guild and its patron spirits. As the guildmaster represented his colleagues at the cathedral, praying to their patron saint for spiritual assistance, so did the kahuna perform rituals at temple or shrine to solicit mana from the patron spirits of his guild. As in Europe, a guild was often dominated by an extended family, but exceptionally talented novices from other families might gain admittance.'

'The term kahuna (plural, kahuna), derives from kahu (caretaker). Custodians of esoteric knowledge kept secret in order to preserve its mana, they no doubt also knew, as do leaders of modern trade and professional organizations, that the control of knowledge by restricting entry to the group (publicly justified today as a way of maintaining high standards) preserves the group's status and a favorable demand/supply ratio. Then, as now, knowledge was power—a manifestation of mana easily lost if not kept private to those deemed worthy of it.'

'Without writing, kahuna were the living libraries of the old culture, preserving knowledge in trained memories.'

'The image of the kahuna has gone through another transform-ation in this century with highly speculative books about kahuna mysticism and magic. But by their own lights, within their perceptions of their world, I believe the kahuna regarded themselves not as mystics but as intensely pragmatic practitioners.'

Excerpts from Ancient Hawaii by Herb Kawainui Kane.