text: "Sacred" is an English word, and as with most western translations of Native Hawaiian concepts, is totally mangled by the European viewpoint.  The Native Hawaiians would say these places identified as "sacred" by the haole, that is, supernatural, is totally misconstrued. These are places of deep respect and reverence. Again, the English word "reverence" does not have anything to do with a supernatural religion like christianity or judaism. The word "reverence" is from the Latin "revereri", meaning "in great awe".  All the Native Hawaiians are saying is these places and objects are to be treated with respect and wonder, not the supernatural association being laid on them by a western mindset on what constitutes a "legitimate" religion.