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Kaleo

A thousand years ago, Ch'ung, a Korean ancestor of Kaleo's, wrote in one of his poems, “I see and hear, the sight the song, would I could pass its joy along.” (translation by Henthorne). Coming from a long Buddhist/Taoist lineage, Kaleo is devoted to pass the joy and spirit of his ancestors through his teaching and private practice where he integrates the rich, ancient modalities of Acupressure/Medical Qigong, Hawaiian Lomi massage, Hypnotherapy and Shamanic Journeying. He feels extraordinarily blessed - “It's been such an honor to meet clients in scared space and be entrusted to share in their personal journeys of healing and transformation, including, even, at times, the ultimate transformation, having been asked by some clients who are dying to help them prepare in body, mind, and spirit.”

Mahalo, in gratitude, to Kaleo’s Hawaiian Lomilomi teacher, the late Kumulomilomi Dane Kaohelani Silva, a Kahuna Pule (line of Lono - Pu'uhonua 'o Honaunau, Hale o Keawe), who acknowledged Kaleo as kumu (teacher). Over the years in retreats, Dane taught Lomilomi and Kaleo taught Qigong or Faces of the Soul maskmaking.

Born and raised in Hawai’i, Kaleo was embraced by the spirit of the ‘āina (land), the aloha and kōkua (loving-kindness) of its people, and the profound mystery of the ocean. His Mother was born and raised on the Pāhala sugar cane plantation, Big Island, and his Father in Kalihi Pālama and Tin Pan Alley, O‘ahu. "Mom and Dad met during World War II when Dad was stationed in Hilo, on his way to the Pacific front. Mom had a passion for playing ‘ukulele and singing Hawaiian music, and at times Dad would spontaneously hula to her music. Home was always filled with the sounds of Hawai’i, and aloha is ingrained deeply in my heart."

From 1967 to 1971, Kaleo served in the U.S. Army Security Agency, trained as a German linguist at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. "I was stationed in West Berlin, where I lived with my German girlfriend and got to be very close to her family who had survived the Second World War. I also did volunteer work with children in German orphanages. These experiences taught me how war affected peoples’ lives and psyches for generations to come."

After Army service, Kaleo earned a Masters degree in Art and began studying Qigong and Chinese Medicine, Hawaiian Lomi Massage, and, later, Hypnotherapy and Shamanic Practices. "My instinct drew me to these modalities that speak the language of the body, subconscious, and spiritual realms for healing and transformation. He taught Qigong, shamanic journeying and transformative art processes for Jail Psychiatric Services in the San Francisco County Jails.

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Elise

a published and an award-winning poet and a practitioner of hatha yoga, Qigong, and contemplative spirituality. As a lover of the vanishing wild beyond the edge of the road, her poetry is inspired by the mystical realms of nature and Spirit. She also worked for 30 years as a Registered Nurse in the San Francisco County Jails. Elise and Kaleo have co-authored six books and are in the process of writing a new book: Riding the Midnight Wing (poetry by Elise and healing shamanic journeys by Kaleo).

In 1988, in the Bay Area, CA, Kaleo and Elise fell in love, got married, and were “parents" of Australian Shepherds, Teekkona and Kahu. From the very beginning, their marriage has been infused with their spiritual search, which has included explorations in Hawaiian spirituality, Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Hinduism, the Jewish Mussar teachings, and shamanic practices. "Our spiritual beliefs are centered on aloha (love) and lōkahi (harmony) as core truths.”

As Teachers

"For the past 35 years, we’ve cotaught our process integrating Qigong, Shamanic Journeying/Hypnotherapy, and Art to engage body, mind, and spirit for healing and transformation.". They taught at multiple venues, including John F Kennedy University Arts and Consciousness Dept. (adjunct professor, 25 years); University of Creation Spirituality; Institute of Transpersonal Psychology/Sofia University; LucasFilms/Industrial Light & Magic; Transpersonal Instituto Universitario, MX; Transpersonal Psychology workshops (Canada); Hawaiian Healing and Art Centers; Chi Nei Tsang Institute; CURA (Carnales Unidos Reformando Adictos); and the Acupressure Institute, Berkeley. Kaleo also taught in San Francisco jails for Haight Ashbury Free Clinic’s Jail Psychiatric Unit.

As Volunteers

As volunteers they've shared "Qigong for Peace” for many venues, e.g. the Peaceful Heart Sangha (Buddhist), Interfaith Council of Contra Costa, Mount Diablo Peace & Justice Center, Peace Lutheran Church, Monument Crisis Center, and various nature and environmental institutes. Kaleo has given Acupressure/Massage to health care clients at Concord Veteran Center, Ca Care Force, monks at New Camaldoli Hermitage, and sisters at Our Lady of the Redwood Abbey. Elise volunteers in animal husbandry and in education at Lindsey Wildlife Experience.

For more details, view Kaleo’s résumé.

View calendar for classes and events.

As Artist and Poet

They’ve exhibited their work together at many venues, e.g. Claudia Chapline Gallery, Reno Arts and Culture Commission, Matrix Gallery, 1078 Gallery, Euphrat Museum of Art, Los Angeles Korean Art Center, San Luis Obispo Art Gallery, John F. Kennedy University Gallery.

View gallery of masks, paintings, poetry.

As Writers

They coauthored:

• Faces of Your Soul: Rituals in Art, Maskmaking, and Guided Imagery with Ancestors, Spirit Guides, and Totem Animals (North Atlantic Books, 2006)
• Chi and Creativity: Vital Energy and Your Inner Artist (Blue Snake Books, 2007)
• Healing Buddha Palms Chi Kung, by Elise, Kaleo, and Gilles Marin (50 pages, with photos), 2009
• Sharing the Maskmaking Journey: A Faces of Your Soul Teacher’s Manual (88 pages, with color photos, Kaleonahe Press, 2011)
• The Creative Art of Living and Dying: Your Journey of Renewal Through Stories, Qigong Meditation, Journaling, and Art, (North Atlantic Books, 2014)
• Qi & Grace: The Embodied Lord's Prayer, by Elise, Kaleo and Rev. Steve Harms (Create Space, 2015)

View books and videos.

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Education

Kaleo: MA, Studio Art; CAMT, Certified Acupressure Massage Therapist; CCHT Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist; CMQG, Certified Medical Qigong Practitioner.

Elise: BS Degree, Nursing; MA English, Transpersonal Psychology; Certified Acupressure Massage Therapist; CCHT Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist

With much gratitude to our teachers for sharing their aloha and wisdom:

Taiji, Qigong, Chi Nei Tsang, Medical Qigong

Jeff Bolt, Mantak Chia, Bruce Kumar Frantzis, Suzanne Friedman, Bernie Langan, Gilles Marin, T.Y. Pang, Peter Ralston, Lenzie Williams, John Zhuang

Hawaiian Lomilomi Massage, Acupressure

Dane Kaohelani Silva, Maka‘ala Yates; Joseph Carter, Michael Gach, Alice Hiatt, Brian O'Dea 

Hypnotherapy & Shamanic Practices

Cheryl Canfield, Randal Churchill, Marlene Mulder; Annie Blackstone, Sandra Ingerman, Puma Fredy Quispe Singona

Fine Arts and Lithography

University of Hawai'i, University of New Mexico, Tamarind Institute of Lithography: Garo Antreasian, John Sommers

Poetry

David Alpaugh, Francis M. Rippy, Thomas Thornberg

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Site photography by Kaleo, Lee Fatheree, Rob Lee, Charlie Lucke and John Pearson

Photographs on this page of Elise and Kaleo, and of Elise, Kahu, and Kaleo, by Lyn ‘Unihipili Moreno