Max Freedom Long Died Sept. 23, 1971

On the 38th Anniversary of Max Freedom Long’s Death

We all know about the time Max Freedom Long spent in Hawaii. It’s described very well in SSBM. The years spent in Los Angeles and Vista are also fairly well documented and, if you’ve read the Bulletins, you’ve followed the tracks of Huna over those years as well.

Max managed the Bulletins from February 1948 through December 1970. They were pretty consistent, and he didn’t miss an issue very often. They discuss many things, some ending up to be very productive and others being dead ends after further research. Max left no stone unturned if it could shed some light on Huna as he knew it.

Max died in September of 1971. He committed suicide. He had spent the bulk of his lifetime researching Huna and publishing what he had learned. His was a life of writing, mostly, and shedding light on this body of knowledge that he had named Huna, this knowledge in which he truly believed. He recognized the power and ‘magic’ that it held within itself … a wonderful gift for the people of the world if they could see it, learn it and embrace it. Max spent his life developing Huna and by 1970, he’d realized that he would not see its completion in his lifetime. His attempt to alter the HRA research organization into a normal, “community based” church caused a revolt in the membership. Huna was changing and there was nothing Max could do to keep it under control.

In November of 1970, his library had been moved to the library-museum in Fort Worth and he no longer had access to all of his books. He missed them in the last few Bulletins, but he was happy to know that his collection would remain intact. “I am very much pleased with the arrangement as I had feared some of my most treasured books would wind up … with the second hand man or be taken to the dump.” (Bull. #98, pg. 2)

By this time, he had been working with the heir of the HRA for a couple of years. This man would oversee the Huna organization of the HRAs and keep the research going after Max was no longer able to do it. In 1970, Max couldn’t possibly know that this wouldn’t happen, so he probably had no expectations that the HRA would eventually fade away after his passing.

There were others involved who ended up with other components of the existing Huna community structure. Some of it has come to fruition over the years, yet Huna hasn’t made huge progress in becoming more widely spread as a spiritual approach to life and our relationship with the planet.

Max stopped issuing the Bulletins at the end of 1970 because he was in poor health. He had cancer in his left leg bone and in his ribs. He was in constant pain and it was more and more difficult for him to get around. He tried many methods for a cure, but nothing took away the pain. And his companion (and other wife), Ethel Doherty, had fallen and broken both her hips. She was convalescing, but it was obvious that things would never be the same. Max was 80. The years had passed and he was aware that his life’s term was drawing to a close.

In Max’s final Bulletin, there is a short article about the death of a long-time HRA and friend. She had cancer. She’d had the “usual surgery and burning” and it hadn’t worked. She knew what lay ahead for her, so she took a lethal dose of sleeping pills and passed over. Max didn’t have a problem with that. “Some day, when we become civilized and can fight back the Church and its objections, we will have a better way of handling these things. … When one sees that there is no hope … this is an honorable and reasonable way.”

In March of 1971, Max first attempted suicide. Like the woman mentioned above, he tried to ingest a lethal dose of sleeping pills. Unlike hers, his attempt failed. Because of this, however, it became obvious that the Huna material had to be finalized and all the loose ends needed to be tied.

He’d been working on a book, What Jesus Taught in Secret, on which he focused his attention, getting it ready for publication. He culled through his notes; he took care of the loose ends. He didn’t want to leave anything undone that might be confusing or misinterpreted after he was gone.

Once everything was in order, he tried again and was successful. On September 23, 1971, at 11:00pm, Max Freedom Long put a shotgun to his head and pulled the trigger. It was time for him to move on and he knew it. At the time, the Huna group called it ‘graduation,’ moving on to a higher plane, and his spirit was ready to do that. He had done all he could do in this lifetime.

He also left the message, via Clairesthesia, that he would be returning, bringing all the ‘true believers’ with him. According to the Mo`i of the Huna Heiau, in April of 2001, “He should have been born along with them about a year ago. Then [he should] be ready to set his effort with Huna once again in about 2020.” Max hoped that Huna would survive during the time he was gone and that he would be able to find it again once he came of age. Huna is still alive and, should he be here, it is here for him to re-discover. It has been changed and adulterated a bit, but the core is pure and the potential still exists.

Max wanted to heal the world with Huna. Unfortunately, one lifetime isn’t enough, especially when one is suffering with the pain of cancer and the heartache of watching a life’s work go unfinished. But unfinished as it was, it has been a boon to many, many people throughout the world and will continue to be so. He gave us a gift that is very precious and we must be thankful for his dedication and tenacity.

“I offer only the tentative fruits of my research. If something is said that you feel is correct, then accept it, but if not, then do not. Of course, there are different ways to look at things.” (Bull. #96, pg. 2)

“I look upon the ‘final union’ as a thing of ultimate beauty, dearness and fulfillment. To me, it is the Second Salvation, the First Salvation being the discovery that there is an Aumakua and making the first full contact with it. Once we have been through this and have felt the flood of love and wonder from the Aumakua, how can we draw back from the attempt to become one?” (Bull. #97, p. 3)

12 Comments

  1. Death has no dominion and I gather from just reading one book, the first one he wrote “The Secret Science Behind Miracles” that Max understood that very well. In my opinion he did not commit suicide but made a conscious decision to let go of a diseased body that was was racked with guilt over perhaps not accomplishing his perceived purpose in his current life cycle. One cannot heal themselves or anyone else if they are blocked by whatever guilt they have and for whatever reason. I have no doubt that Max will make himself known in a few more years and I expect to be learning from him directly at that time. I am 61, moved to Hawaii in 2005 and knew when I saw the outshore of Oahu that I have come home and kissed the oil covered runway of the Honolulu airport as soon as I got off the plane. I now know I was a student of the Huna way in a past life and at a time when there was much confusion and distress because of the Europeans introducing leprosy to my people. Anyone living on the Big Island that wants to start a Huna group please contact me at Winddancerhawaii@yahoo.com
    Mahalo and Hui ho
    WindDancer Hunt

  2. Since I knew about this great person Max Freedom Long, I felt so good on everything He gave us. I really don’t want to say an extra word because I know He is somewhere now ready to continue with is spiritual work.

    God bless you for such a good work for us to know him better and admire more.

    God Bless Max, our hero.

  3. LA MUERTE SOLO ES UN ESTADO DE TRANSICION COMO HUNA DICE LA “GRADUACION” EN LO PERSONAL EL SISTEMA HUNA ME CAMBIO LA VIDA A PARTIR DE QUE ESTUIDIE LA FILOSOFIA HUNA MI VIDA CAMBIO. AHORA SOY MEJOR PERSONA, MEJOR SER HUMANO Y CADA DIA TRATO DE TRASMITIR A MIS PARIENTES Y AMIGOS QUE EXISTE UN AUMAKUA Y QUE SE DEBE HACER CONTACTO CON EL PARA PODER RECIBIR TODO LO QUE NOSOTROS MERECEMOS. ASI COMO PRACTICAR EL PERDON Y EL SERVICIO A LOS QUE LO NECESITEN.

    QUE DIOS BENDIGA A MAX Y GRACIAS DONDE QUIERA QUE ESTES.

    [Editor’s Translation: Death is only a transition, like Huna says, “a graduation” of the personal Huna system. It changed my life. Studying Huna philosophy, my life changed. Today I am a better person, a better human and every day I transmit to my family and friends that an Aumakua exists and that they should be in contact with him to receive ALL we deserve. That way we practice forgiveness and can be of service to those in need.

    God bless you Max, wherever you are.]

  4. Did he really believe the message that he was teaching? How could he heal the world if he could not heal himself? Just because someone brings us wonderful teachings does not mean we should overlook everything they do as acceptable.

    Suicide was his choice; there’s no need to justify it to keep him special. Just don’t fool yourselves.

    Thanks Max for your contribution.

  5. Thank you for disclosing this situation to us- I am so glad I was able to read your touching and insightful exposition before I heard the cold hard details elsewhere. You expressed eloquently (as did Max) why suicide is an honorable choice, and you thus defused much of society’s hard-headed brainwashing that vilifies the highly personal act of suicide. You quickly took away much of the sadness I felt at first. Thank you for digging deeply into your heart to share with us the final legacy from Max.

  6. Lele Wale Akua La.

  7. Max was an amazing channel and bridge for the world. The out breath known a “Life” is an amazing dream. I am very grateful for Max and the revelation of his last purpose (Life). It has changed my Life in the best way possible.

    As far as the “suicide” thing, societal conditioning is very interesting. We have significant segments of the population imbibing alcohol, synthetic substances of every type, mentally poisoning themselves, their families & friends, practicing hatred and violence… and how is any of this worse than ending a life? A life that from many indications (because I sense that Max would not have taken such actions without clear insight) seemed to be complete?

    Death is a sacred experience. It is highly misunderstood. We witness it repeatedly (movies, TV, etc.) and never really explore it. It’s not a popular topic. Just ask someone. Although with Max’s work we are able to attain a glimpse of the ethereal dimensions more clearly… to begin to comprehend the overall process that unfolds with each individual’s journey, here in the physical.

    I am so grateful for Max Freedom Long’s contributions. Thank you Max. Your Life made a huge improvement in the physical… For all who came before and all that will come in the future. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

  8. Aloha. Mahalo for sharing this news of Max with all of us. I have never made judgements of anyone and I have always felt that we choose to arrive here and we can choose to leave whichever way is right for the growth of our soul and when we feel that we have accomplished all that is. My intro to Max was through buying a book at the Theosophical Book Shop in Adelaide, Australia with my last $5. Growing into Light confirmed all that I believed. No one in Adelaide I knew who were involved in spiritual work had ever heard of Huna until one night I went to a Rosicrucian Meditation and met Sister Ruth Heathcock. She worked with the Aust. natives who lived on the Roper River Police Station in the Northern Territory, their lives were lived in the traditional way – Huna – as we know it. I found out that I had really been living that way all my life as well. No Hurt – No Sin. I also was brought up in the Roman Catholic belief system which didn’t ring true for me. Max will find that the word is in many places now, and that it has worked for so many who have also passed their knowledge on that it will just keep on travelling and growing. I’ll be using Ho’oponopono at a funeral on monday for one of my students from 30 years ago and passing it out to his other friends. I learned the long version from Morrnah at Pu’unaloo in 1980.Mahalo Max.

  9. Ahuwale Ka Nane Huna!

  10. I think That MFL was wonderfull teacher to whom we always have to be gratefull. I would never have expected he had commited suicide. There is always things that maybe cant understand in others even in great mens. He will always be remembered. Jaime

  11. My first thought was a question; did MFL try to cure his cancer with Huna, or with the Healing Group’s assistance? I see no mention of that. If he didn’t try, why not?

    At any rate, he performed a huge service to mankind and me personally. Huna has put together many pieces of the puzzle that is my existence for me. (Dr. Clark Wilkerson’s book has been helpful to me also).

  12. Philip Hostettler (Tonga Philip!)

    Hello-Aloha: I am actually glad to know such personal details of such an event, about someone I admire. My ‘tribal’ past includes being raised a devout Catholic where we are taught to be buried instead of cremated. I like the idea of having my ashes spread amongst the great winds as I am an aviator. I have a friend who in such pain that suicide has been discussed an option. Mr. Long chose… and life is about choice and creating the kind of life we desire. I can’t really have an opinion about his choice… but evidently he chose relief or Peace as he knows it. All I do know is this… some power directed me to visit a good will store in downtown Nashville, in a dangerous part of town. I had never been there and had never purchased anything in the store. I had no reason to go in. However, there was a huge collection of books for sale for $1.00. As I was going through the collection, I saw a hardbound, blue book at the back of the pile… not in the best condition. It was a first edition volume of The Secret Behind Miracles. When I picked up, my hands actually started sweating – and became very hot. I purchased the book and spent the next four days pouring over the book… skipping work, family and friends. As a result of that day, it is my opinion that Mr. Long is still with us, and Mr. Long, and those that are practicing Huna put out the signals that draws us to such events. This was no accident. I consider myself to still be a little “Tribal,” but in the least I believe I am now a Tribal Spaceman… Philip Hostettler

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