Limu kala (sargarssum) is a fairly common variety of seaweed greatly valued for its many uses as well as for its meaning: kala means to forgive, to release, to unbind. Hawaiian authority, Mary Kawena Pukui, tells us that "Limu kala symbolically unbounded or loosened man from wrong doings and mutual hostilities that marred human and human-with-god relationships." As a result, its use was frequent in daily Hawaiian life. Ethnobotanist Isabella Aiona Abbott explains:

Limu kala has several important uses in Hawaiian culture. It was used in religious ceremonies, including those dedicated to the gods Kanaloa and Lono. The limu was placed on altars or worn by dancers participating in these ceremonies. It was one of the main ceremonial limu, used in canoe dedications, and in the process of ho'oponopono (a family or community mediation or reconciliation process). It was eaten, but was more often used to impart flavor to dishes. The floats were pounded with kukui kernels and used as bait for the kala fish. It was also used medicinally, as a poultice for wounds, especially when at sea. Limu kala was also placed in the bottom of war canoes, and its fragrance was believed to strengthen the resolve of warriors.

The fish called kala was a delicacy whose strong savoriness was attributed to its fondness for limu kala. According to the Kumulipo, a traditional chant of creation, the limu kala had a land-based counterpart, the ‘ākala, which is the endemic raspberry. Whenever the word kala is used, connotations of forgiveness are present.

Hawaiian researcher Carol Silva describes the healing aspects of kala and limu kala within the family unit:

The [limu kala] lei also played a role in dealing with family conflicts and associated medical problems. Often, unexplained illness was seen as a physical manifestation of emotional conflict, and had effects on the entire family. Members of the family would gather together and, through prayer and open soul-searching, identify the source of the trouble and take corrective action. At the close of the session, the individual deemed at fault would wear an open lei of limu kala (sargassum) into the ocean. As the lei was lifted off the shoulders by the waves and floated away, the negative influences were carried off and the wearer was "freed and pardoned," or kala.

For many Hawaiian families, the ritual of mutual forgiveness is still a regular and critical practice. No progress can happen, whatsoever, until the act of kala clears the path. Hence, Hawaiian healers always engage in prayer along with the prescription of herbs. Many consider the medicinal quality of plants useless without the cleansing process, of which kala is an integral part. Before starting a new venture, project or even at the start of a new year, kala is essential in preparing the way for success.

Please seek the guidance of your physician or traditional healing specialist before beginning treatment of any kind. Also, please remember that Hawaiian herbal remedies are always used in conjunction with spiritual cleansing and pule (prayer).