Featured Member's Choice Entertainment Digital Art 17 October 2007 ~ Western slopes of Haleakala into the clouds at 6400 feet elevation, Maui, Hawai'i ~ "MANA ~ A Neglected Gift ~ by Kaleiola `akea ~ In ancient times a great civilization stood on a land called Mu. Those who lived on this peaceful land understood the forces of the universe, they named this power mana. The manipulation and utilization of these forces were common place. Mana was known as the life giving force that emanated from Akua (God), it fills all of space, mana is that, which all things are made of. In time the residents of Mu began to abuse this great gift of knowledge, they used mana to selfishly obtain earthly things, they also used the power in harmful ways. This misuse affected the elements, polluted the land... this caused mother earth to respond, and after a time, the earth forces sank the motherland of mankind beneath the blue Pacific. Some of the "ancients" foresaw the signs of catastrophe to come, and sent men of wisdom to colonize in directions both east and west. Most of the remaining population perished, however, a few escaped to higher regions before the waters rolled in over the land. Those who made it to the mountain tops, now found themselves on islands cut off by thousands of miles of open ocean. Two tribes, the Menehune and the Mu survived on what is now called Hawai`i ..... ~ http://www.punawelewele.com/halepai/iulai/mana.htm