Because of their spiritual relationship with water, many Hawaiians perform a Hi uwai a cleansing ritual that takes place in the ocean or a stream when they feel stressed.
There are thousands of types of Hi uwais, all of which serve a different purpose and have been passed down through oral tradition in Hawaiian families for centuries. Hi uwais are directly connected to our health and well-being, as the process allows us to move forward with our days and lives from the many physical and spiritual forces that may be holding us down or back, Maui-based kumu lauhala (weaving teacher) Pi iali i Lawson told me during a recent visit to Hawai’i.
“Working conditions were so oppressive that some Thai workers felt that they were treated more like prisoners and slaves," US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said.