Hemahema vs. Makaukau

Ke welina aloha iā kākou a pau! In today's episode of Morning Mana'o we will compare two Hawaiian words, hemahema and mākaukau. Most of us are probably familiar with the word mākaukau, so let's begin by exploring the word hemahema. Hemahema translates as ackward, clumsy, unskilled, unprepared. It can also mean inexperience, lack of skill and to not know well. We all have phases in our lives where we may feel hemahema in a particular area. As kānaka we have strengths and weaknesses. Now, the great thing is that we can work on the areas where we are hemahema and make our weaknesses become our strengths. On the other hand, mākaukau means able, competent, capable, effecient. It can also mean prepared, proficient, skilled, an expert. Two opposites, hemahema and mākaukau, yet, with hard work, diligence and perseverence, we can become mākaukau in areas we were once hemahema. As we prepare to bring in the new year we all begin to reflect on New Year's resolutions and goals for 2010. May we take the time to think about areas we feel we are hemahema and create goals that will help us to improve and become more mākaukau. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

Kaena

Aloha kakahiaka! Today's Morning Mana'o emphasizes the importance of correct pronunciaiton and spelling in Hawaiian. Let's look at two words, spelled exactly the same way, Ka'ena and Kaena. The first word has an 'okina in it, Ka'ena. The second has no 'okino, Kaena. With the exception of the 'okina they are spelled the same way, k, a, e, n, a, but they have two very different meanings. Ka'ena with the 'okina can mean the glowing, the red glow or angry, raging, enraged. Kaena without the 'okina means to brag, boast, conceited or proud. You can clearly see why it is so important to spell and pronounce Hawaiian words correctly. When I think of the word Kaena I can recall a story entitled, Nā Keiki 'Elima, The Five Children. It uses the word Kaena frequently and has a great ha'awina, lesson and is filled with loina, values. E ho'olohe mai as I share the story with you.

There once were five children who went out to spear fish. The first keiki boasted and said, "I can get a he'e." He dived down and came up with nothing. The second keiki boasted and said, "I can get an ula, lobster." He dived down and came up with nothing. The third keiki boasted and said, "I can get an uhu." He dived down and came up qith nothing. The fourth keiki boasted and said, "I can get a kala." He dived down and like the others he came up with absolutely nothing. The fifth and final keiki said nothing at all. He simply dove down into the water and when he surfaced he had nā i'a he nui, plenty of fish, all kinds. His name was Ka'imipono, ke keiki kaena 'ole, the child that didn't brag. (Nā Keiki 'Elima. Wilson, Pila. Hale Kuamo'o. 1992.)

Such a great mo'olelo with a wonderful lesson for us to learn. When we do not boast or brag, but instead are quiet and humble, we are blessed abundantly. Pipi Holo Ka'ao, let the story be told. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

Pulelehua

Welina me ke aloha e nā hoa aloha o ke kakahiaka! Welcome to Morning Mana'o. Like Oprah, I have a few favorite things. I love the silouhette of the moonlight on the ocean. I love the vastness of the mountains on a clear early morning. I love flowers, especially scented ones. I love listening to my children sing and I love butterflies. Knowing this, my son Kamahiwa wrote a song for me last Mother's Day that compares me to a beautiful butterfly or in Hawaiian a pulelehua. The words go like this -

Nani nā waiho'olu'u o ka pulelehua.
Beautiful are the colors of the butterfly.
Lele i mua, lele i hope ma Wailuku, kahi keu a ka nani.
Flying forward and backwards in Wailuku, a beautiful place.
Kū 'o ia e noho me nā pua.
And she still makes time for her flowers, her children.
Lele i mua, lele i hope, lele i uka, lele i kai.
Flying forward, flying backwards, flying in the uplands, flying near the sea.
Holoholo ka pulelehua a puni ka mokupuni 'o Maui.
The butterfly travles around the island of Maui.
U'i 'o ia ke nānā aku. Hana me ka 'olu'olu nui.
She is beautiful to look at and always very pleasant.

For Christmas, he and my other children made me a musical CD and this is the song Kamahiwa chose to record. The best Christmas gift I've ever received. A nice reminder to all to enjoy our children because time flies, they grow up and we will miss these precious moments with them. Thank you, Hiwa for my beautiful mele.

Aloha nō, a hui hou!

Po La'i E - Silent Night

Aloha Kalikimaka e nā hoa makamaka! In keeping with the Christmas spirit that's in the air let's learn the Hawaiian words to a well known Christmas hymn, Silent Night. I like looking at early translations of mele because they are not translated literally, but instead, our kūpuna used words that expressed the mana'o of the mele. Let's take a look at this mele. Silent night, Holy night. Pō la'i ē, Pō kamaha'o. But let's look closely at each word. Pō is the word for night. La'i as we have learned has multiple meanings - calm, still, quiet and tranquility. Pō la'i ē. Kamaha'o is used here to express holy but it also means wonderful, surprising, astonising and marvelous. Pō kamaha'o. Maluhia, malamalama. All is calm all is bright. Maluhia means peace, quiet and serene. Malamalama translates as light, shining, radiant. Ka makuahine aloha ē, me ke keiki hemolele ē. Round yon virgin mother and child. Makuahine is mother and the word aloha is used here to express the this was a beloved, cherished, special mother. Moe me ka maluhia lani. Sleep in heavenly peace. Moe is to sleep and maluhia lani is the heavenly peace. Moe me ka maluhia lani. A beautiful mele with so much mana'o wrapped intricately in each line. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

Pahuhopu . . . Goals for 2010

Aloha kakahiaka! Hau'oli makahiki hou. Happy New Year! As we begin this new year many of us are setting goals and making committments to make 2010 even better than last year. The word for goal is pahuhopu. As we set our pahuhopu for 2010 we can look to the wisdom of our kūpuna that help us to ho'okō, to fulfill our pahuhopu? Many 'ōlelo no'eau can give us the inspiration and direction to fufill our pahuhopu. Here are few for us to ponder:

Kūlia i ka nu'u. Strive for excellence. Do the best we can in all that we do.

Mai maka'u i ka hana, maka'u i ka moloā. Don't fear work, instead, fear laziness.

Ma ka hana ka 'ike. There is knowledge to be gained through hard work.

In addition to these words of wisdom, we can apply our cultural values to help us achieve our goals.

Ahonui, patience. Ho'omau, perseverance. Ha'aha'a, humility.

As we press forward in 2010 striving to live better, be better and do better, we can look at the many ha'awina, lessons taught to us by our ancestors to guide us along our journey. May we all be able to ho'okō our pahuhopu.

Aloha nō, a hui hou.

Polinahe

'Ano'ai e nā hoa makamaka! As we prepare for this hopenapule, weekend, we have the opportunity to hear beautiful Hawaiian music at Aloha Friday. The featured artist this weekend is Lorna Lim, one of my favorite Hawaiian female vocalists. Her latest album is called Polinahe. Let's take a look at this title, Polinahe. Poli is the Hawaiian word for bosom, breast or depression. It poetically means heart or arms, like where you hold someone in your arms. We'll use the first line of a Hawaiian classic as our example. Ma ku'u poli mai 'oe, come rest upon my bosom. Nahe comes from the word nahenahe which means soft, sweet, melodious, like music or a gentle voice. Nahenahe kēia mele. This song is sweet. It can also mean a soft, gentle breeze. Nahenahe ka makani. The wind is soft and gentle. When combined, Polinahe could mean a few things. Soft heart, gentle bosom. But when I think of Lorna Lim's musical talent and her angelic voice, it seems to mean the sweet, gentle song of the heart. So lovely when you think about it! So, friends, come and enjoy an evening of nahenahe Hawaiian music and come find out for yourself why her album is called Polinahe. For now, e nanea mai, relax and enjoy her leo nahenahe. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

Hemolele

'Ano'ai me ke aloha e ko Maui! Aloha Kalikimaka! Ahh, there's a feeling of Christmas in the air! As we welcome this holiday season it seems that we all have a little more aloha in our hearts as we try to exemplify the values of our kūpuna. This time of year reminds me of a beautiful Hawaiian word, hemolele, which means perfect, faultless, flawless. It also means holy, as in the mele Pō La'i ē or Silent night. Hemolele is used in the line that describes the baby Jesus, me ke keiki hemolele ē, the perfect, holy child. Now, perfection is something we all strive for but haven't quite reached. Hemolele can also mean pure in heart, virtue and goodness. Characteristics that are a little more attainable for us. When we look at our ancestors we see that they constantly strived for a sense of hemolele. Their work was maiau, clean and neat. They believed in po'okela, excellence and in certain areas, like religion and worship, things had to be hemolele. Now there are some things in our lives that we have control over and we can be hemolele. In school you can get a perfect report card or perfect attendance. You can be the perfect gentlemen or plan the perfect event. Whatever it may be if you put your mind to it perfection can be achieved. But more importantly, we can all strive to be more pure in heart and in our intentions. This is probably the best way we can incorporate hemolele into our lives. Tune in tomorrow as we learn the words for Silent Night in Hawaiian. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

Ma'ema'e

Aloha kakahiaka! Today's Hawaiian word is ma'ema'e. It literally means clean. Ma'ema'e ka hale. The house is clean. It also means pure, attractive, chaste and purity. Ma'ema'e kona na'au. She has a pure heart. Ma'ema'e wale nō 'o Maui. Maui is a perfect beauty. When we want someone to clean up we say ho'oma'ema'e. E ho'oma'ema'e i ka hale. Clean the house. E ho'oma'ema'e i ke ka'a. Clean the car. I love the word ma'ema'e because it speaks of a pureness that is sometimes lacking in today's world. Not just being physically clean and neat, but being pure and chaste inside, in the na'au. Have you ever met someone who radiates this in their countenance? Their lives are pure, simple and they are so joyful and content. Being ma'ema'e brings this kind of peace. Peace that comes from deep within the soul. Peace that comes from living a righteous life, doing the best you can and being ma'ema'e inside and out. We can all achieve ma'ema'e. As we strive to do good, to live pono and to make things right in our lives, we, too become ma'ema'e. Each day we can all choose to live with a little more purity in our lives. Pure intentions, pure love, pure hearts. As we live these loina that our kūpuna exemplified, we are doing our part in making our world a better place. Ma'ema'e nō. Aloha nō, a hui hou!

'Oia'i'o

Aloha kakahiaka e nā hoa aloha! Aloha Kalikimaka! Christmas greetings to you all, Morning Mana'o listeners. Today's word is 'Oia'i'o and it is one of my favorite Hawaiian words. Literally it means truth. 'O ia ka 'oia'i'o. That's the truth. 'Oia'i'o kāna 'ōlelo. What she says is true. It can also mean genuine, real, authentic. 'Oia'i'o nō kēia. This is for real. I love this word because it reminds me to be true to who I am, true to what I believe in. Sometimes we become who we think people want us to be. We live and act in a way that is socially acceptable. This can cause us to lose track of our values, virtues even the very essence of who we are. 'Oia'i'o means to live a life of honesty, integrity and truth. 'Oia'i'o comes when we can first accept ourselves for who we are - the good and the bad, our strenghts, our weakeness, our shortcomings. When we honestly accept who we are we can have realationships and interactions with others that are meaningful and genuine. Instead of hiding or covering up, we live a life of transparency and authenticity. Denial is dangerous, but the truth will truly set you free. Free to live your best life. A pure life of 'oia'i'o. Tomorrow we'll discuss the Hawaiian word for pure and purity, but today, may we all focus on living a life of 'oia'i'o. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

Lawelawe

He leo aloha kēia iā 'oukou e nā hoa makamaka! Greetings of love to you, Morning Mana'o listeners! Today's Hawaiian word to ponder and apply is lawelawe. Literally it translates as to serve, work for, administer to, tend to. In traditional times the lawelawe were the servants of the ali'i. They tended to their every need. How can we apply this mana'o to our lives today? Yesterday I watched my sons go across the street and mow the neighbor's lawn. I was really touched to see them doing an act of service. But later when I went over and visited with my neighbor I realized something even greater. Service can be rendered in so many different ways. Yes, the boys mowed the lawn and that was great, but what she needed even more was company. Someone to talk to, someone to listen, someone to laugh with. She needed to know that she wasn't forgotten and that she was loved and cared about. It was simple. A small act of service and a little conversation brought so much joy to her and her family, but even greater joy to me and my family. A little act of service can go a long way. So, my Morning Mana'o friends, let's take the challenge to be a lawelawe to someone. Put a little love in your heart and find ways this Christmas Season to share some of our time, give a little service and brighten someone's day. The world can be a better place one act of service at a time! Ke aloha nō, a hui hou!

E lawe i ke a'o a malama a e 'oi mau ka na'auao

Aloha Kalikimaka e nā hoa pepeiao! Christmas greetings to you all, Morning Mana'o listeners! Today's 'ōlelo no'eau is E lawe i ke a'o a mālama a e 'oi mau ka na'auao. Literally it means, take what you have learned and apply it and your wisdom will increase. I love this 'ōlelo no'eau because it is a reminder to us that when we learn and gain 'ike, we have a kuleana, a responsibility to apply, to use it, to share it with others. You know, the saying really is true that the teacher of a lesson learns the most. Whenever I prepare to teach or share the 'ike I have been blessed to receive, I always learn so much. No matter how many times I present the same topic, each and every time I learn something new or gain a new perspective. We are told that we should seek knowledge and increase our wisdom. We go to school as children and our parents encourage us to learn all that we can. We further our education in college or trade school so that we can make a living. Some of us are life long learners, continuing to learn as adults and even kūpuna. Sometimes, however, we may forget that the knowledge we gain is a privilege and with privilege comes kuleana. May we all take the lessons we learn in life and the academic lessons we learn in school and learn them well, apply them and when able to, share them with others. E lawe i ka 'ike a mālama a e 'oi mau ka na'auao. Aloha nō, a hui hou!

He poki'i no Makoa

Aloha mai e nō hoa makamaka, nā pōki'i o Maui nui a Kama! Greetings to you friends, younger siblings of Maui nui a Kama! Today's 'ōlelo no'eau is He pōki'i no Makoa. Literally this proverb translates as, Makoa's younger brother. It is said in admiration of a speedy athlete. In Hawaiian tradition Makoa was a speedy runner in Kamehameha's day whose swiftness gained him fame. These words are uttered when someone demonstrates exceptional athletic skill. As it is common in our culture, we honor and recognize those who came before us. In this instance, Makoa is acknowledged. The skilled athlete is compared to the skillfull Makoa. Pōki'i literally means younger sibling. This word was also uttered by Kamehameha the Great here in Maui during the Battle of Kepaniwai. He knew the battle would be firece and challenging and so he said to his warriors, "I mua e nā pōki'i, a inu i ka wai 'awa'awa" - onward younger siblings and drink of the bitter cup. His was a charge to forge ahead and fulfill their mission even it meant death. What committment, what loyalty was shown by Kamehameha's pōki'i. What power and respect Kamehameha had to be able to motivate them in this way. I wonder if siblings today still exhibit this kind of loyalty to each other. In this ever changing world hō'ihi, respect and kūpa'a, loyalty are not always valued attributes. But we see that hō'ihi and kūpa'a were essential traits in traditional times. So much mana'o wrapped up in this short, simple 'ōlelo no'eau. Mahalo to our kūpuna for their wisdom. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

Hau'oli La Ho'omaika'i

Hau'oli la ho'omaika'i e nā hoa pepeiao o ke kakahiaka! Happy Thanksgiving Morning Mana'o listeners! As we celebrate thanksgiving we have the opportunity to mahalo aku, show our gratitude for the many pōmaika'i, blessings that we enjoy. Today, I'd like to take a moment to mahalo aku . . . Mahalo aku au i ke Akua no ku'u 'ohana. I am thankful to God for my family. Mahalo aku au i kēia 'āina nani nō. I am thankful for this beautiful land. It is a privilege and blessing to live on Maui. Mahalo aku au i nā kūpuna i hala, no ka 'ike i waiho 'ia na mākou. I appreciate my kūpuna who have passed, for the knowledge they have left for us. Nui ko'u mahalo no nā pōmaika'i a pau. I am very grateful for the many blessings I have received. Today, as we enjoy food, family, friends and a day off from work, may we also take some time to express our gratitude to those around us, those we love. E ho'omaika'i kākou! Aloha nō, a hui hou!

He po walea, he ao walea i ka la'i

Welina me ke aloha e nā hoa makamaka! Greetings to you my beloved Morning Mana'o friends! Today's 'ōlelo no'eau is He pō walea, he ao walea i ka la'i, A night enjoyed, a day enjoyed. Peace brings undisturbed nights and days. I love this beautiful proverb spoken by our kūpuna. It is so true that when we are at peace, we enjoy our days and our nights more. We are able to find joy in the simple things of daily life and our nights are restful because our minds are at ease. In this challenging times we live in, it can be difficult to find and maintain this kind of peace. On the other hand, difficult times and challenges cause us to simplify our lives and begin spending our time where it matters most. The makahiki season is upon us. It is a traditional time of peace, celebration and thanksgiving. Our ancestors anticipated the rise of Makali'i, Pleadies as the sun set simultaneously in the West. This was the hō'ailona or sign that Makahiki had begun. We prepare this week for Thanksgiving. A time to celebrate and give thanks. It is the beginning of the holiday season, a time to enjoy good food, time with family and friends and to give thanksgiving for the many blessings we enjoy. May we all be blessed with nā pō walea, he ao walea i ka la'i, undisturbed days and nights filled with peace. Ke aloha nō, a hui hou.

Hua'i ka 'ulu o Lele i ka makani Kona

Hua'i ka 'ulu o Lele i ka makani Kona. The breadfruit of Lele is exposed by the Kona wind. Hidden matters are revealed in times of anger. When the Kona winds blows, the leaves of the breadfruit trees known to grow at Lele, the traditional name of Lāhaina are blown off and expose the fruit. This occurance in nature is compared to life. The strong Kona wind blows like pent up anger and like the breadfruit that is exposed, hidden matters can surface in times of anger and become public knowledge. Have you ever been angry and said things you regretted later? Sometimes we can get so caught up in our emotions that we lose control and before we know it we have said things we shouldn't have said. How do we prevent this from happening? There are many 'ōlelo no'eau that remind us of the importance of our words - I ka 'ōlelo nō ke ola, i ka 'ōlelo nō ka make, in the language there is life in the language there is death is one such reminder. One of the lessons we have to learn in this life is to control ourselves and exercise self discipline. Our actions are start first with our thoughts. Thoughts become words and words become actions. We must first begin by controlling thoughts. When we fill our minds with good mana and positive thinking it affects our speech and thus our actions. Each time we hold our tongue and control our actions we become better able to do so. Practice truly makes perfect. As we learn to master our thoughts, our words, our actions and reactions, we are less likely to react in anger and expose the breadfruit of Lele. Ah, yet another maika'i lesson from our akamai ancestors. Aloha nō, a hui hou!

'A'ohe mea koe ma ku'ono.

Welina me ke aloha e ka lehulehu o Maui nui a Kama! Today's 'ōlelo no'eau is 'A'ohe mea koe ma kū'ono, nothing remains in the corners. This proverb is said of one who is extremely generous, giving freely without reservations. Someone who exhibits and exemplifies the idea of lokomaika'i, generosity and benevolence. I'm sure we can all think of people in our lives who live this quality. They are giving. As a matter of fact, they give so much that sometimes it may seem that there is nothing left to give. However, if we look at another 'ōlelo no'eau we find that blessings come to those who give - 'o ka pono ke hana 'ia iho mai nā lani - when good things are done the heavens cannot hold back the blessing. In these difficult economic times it may be a challenge for many of us to be so generous and giving, but it really is the key to blessings. When we bless others, we are blessed. Being generous doesn't have to mean that there is a cost attached. We can give in ways that do not require money. We can give of our time, labor and talents as we serve one another. Especially now, as the holidays approach us, think of ways that you can be of service and when you choose to give, do it without reservation and enjoy the blessings of your actions. Aloha nō, a hui hou!

He inoa 'ala

Welina me ke aloha e nā makamaka! Today's Morning Mana'o is a precious momi left for us by our kūpuna, He inoa 'ala, A fragrant name. This 'ōlelo no'eau is said of a chief whose reputation is good. Have you ever worn a sweet pikake lei or inhaled the fragrance of fully bloomed puakenikeni? The scent is something not easily forgotten. In fact, the scent of these fragrant flowers often take me back to the very moments in which I smelled that particular fragrance. When I smell puakenikeni I immediately think of Kamehameha Competition with my Kumu Keali'i Reichel and the puakenikeni lei we wore. When I smell ginger I am reminded of my trips to Ko'olau, Maui and the wonderful memories of swimming in fresh water ponds with my Tutu and Papa. The fragrance lasts and so, too, do the memories. He inoa 'ala reminds us that just as vivid memories are evoked by fragrance, we make lasting impressions by our actions. A name that carries a good fragrance, he inoa 'ala, is a name that is associated with goodness, good deeds, good work. Actions speak louder than words and the impressions we make through our actions are like fragrant flowers that permeate the room and leave a lasting fragrance. Ah, what an opportunity for each of us to reflect upon the 'ala, the fragrance we are leaving and the impressions that we are making. We all have the ability to choose each day the kind of impression we want to leave and the reputation we create. There are many inoa 'ala in my life, people who have made lasting impressions and whose reputations have left a legacy of goodness. As KPOA celebrates its 25th Anniversary from the ninth island, Las Vegas, we can reflect upon the inoa 'ala, the fine reputation, the proud name, the lasting impressions the KPOA 'ohana has left upon us and within our community. Mahalo KPOA for 25 years of aloha and ho'omaika'i, congratulations, indeed, He inoa 'ala! Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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He pu'u pale ia lae na ka ho'okele

Aloha kakahiaka Morning Mana'o listeners! Our 'ōlelo no'eau for today is He pu'u pale ia lae na ka ho'okele. The cape is just something to be passed by the canoeman. This proverb is said as a boast that difficulties are mere trifles to an expert. In the canoe the ho'okele is extremely important. He is the skilled navigator who steers the canoe in the right direction. He is in tune with the natural environment and understands its subtle nuances. He reads the celestial signs which give him direction and at the same time watches the currents and waves. He has spent hours and hours learning and preparing for his voyage. So much so that when the course becomes rugged and difficult, when he approaches a cape jutting out into the sea, he is able to easily and confidently maneuvur the canoe, correct his course if he needs to and continue to navigate the open seas. So it is with us in life. Each experience we go through prepares us for the next one. As we develop our life skills, skills like faith, perseverence, inner strength and a positive attitude, we become more skilled in navigating through our life's journey. We are then able to meet our challenges with confidence and optism, knowing full well that the obstacle along the way are mere trifles. Our kūpuna are oh, so wise! Indeed, he pu'u pale ia lae na ka ho'okele. May we all become skilled navigators in this journey called life. Ke aloha nō, a hui hou.

He piko pau 'iole.

Aloha kakahiaka e ko Maui a me nā hoa ma Las Vegas! Welcome to another episode of Morning Mana'o. He piko pau 'iole. An umbilical cord taken by a rat. This 'ōlelo no'eau is said in reference to a chronic thief. The umbilical cords of infants were taken to special places where the cords of other family members were kept for many generations. If a rat took a cord before it was hidden away safely, it was believed that the child would became a thief. Different 'ohana may have different ways of caring for the piko, but the most common in traditional times was to take the piko to a pōhaku piko. This pōhaku was located ma kai and usually made of porous rock, with pukapuka where the piko could be hidden. The salt water preserved the piko and purified it, keeping it free from defilement. The piko is a very personal part of the baby and contains his or her mana. Just like finger nails and hair, the piko could be used to cause harm upon the child, so the proper disposal of the piko was very important. In our 'ohana we took the piko of our first three children to our 'ohana pōhaku piko, where it was placed ceremonially. Our children can still visit this area and see the pōhaku piko they are linked to. Kamahiwa, our youngest child's piko was placed in the uplands of Mauna Kahālāwai, the mountain he is named after, forever connecting him to this wahi pana. Indeed, the traditions of kūpuna are kept alive through us . . . Ola nā iwi. Aloha nō, a hui hou!

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'A'ohe mea 'imi a ka maka

Aloha mai e nā hoa makamaka! Today's Morning Mana'o is 'A'ohe mea 'imi a ka maka. Nothing more for the eyes to search for. Everything one desires is in his presence. Sometimes as we go about our lives we seem to be in a constant quest to gain more - more money, more intelligence, more material things. We want a nicer car, a bigger house a higher paying job and some of us may even desire a better partner, better friends. When we are in this mode we often forget the things we do have. Sometimes the quest for more results in a lack of appreciation for what is right here in our midst. This 'ōlelo no'eau reminds us to appreciate what we have. When we are satisfied and content, our eyes no longer have to look elsewhere. We can look around us and feel gratitude and appreciation for our blessings. Now, being content and satisfied with what we have doesn't mean that we cannot strive for more. Our kūpuna lived by the motto Kūlia I Ka Nu'u, to strive for the summit. They worked hard to be better and to achieve excellence. We just cannot allow ourselves to be consumed by our desires. So, e nā hoa aloha, look around you at what you have, your family, your friends, your loved ones and be grateful so that your eyes need not wander and lead you astray. 'A'ohe mea 'imi a ka maka. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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'A'ohe inoa komo 'ole o ka 'ai

Aloha kakahiaka e ko Maui! Good Morning Maui! Today's Morning Mana'o is 'A'ohe inoa komo 'ole o ka 'ai. No name prevents food from entering my mouth. This 'ōlelo no'eau is similar to saying "sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." Have you ever had someone say something negative about you or put you down and then your na'au gets all twisted to the point that you don't even feel like eating? Well this 'ōlelo no'eau is a reminder to us that people will say whatever they want to say, but we don't have to be affected by their words in a negative way. We can still have an appetite and be able to enjoy our food. Unfortunately, there are those in this world who don't have anything nice to say and who choose to put others down. They use the power of the 'ōlelo, the spoken word to bring about negativity and to hurt others. We know that words have power. Another 'ōlelo no'eau, I ka 'ōlelo nō ke ola, i ka 'ōlelo nō ka make reminds us of the power of the 'ōlelo to bring about life and death. However, this 'ōlelo no'eau reminds us of the power we have within us to accept negativity or to deflect it. We can choose to have a positive attitude. We can be confident in who we are and what we represent and we can take comfort in knowing that we are not defined by other people's opinions. So, the next time you are hurt by someone's words remember the this 'ōlelo no'eau, keep your chin up and be confident in who you are and then go on your merry way eating and enjoying the life Ke Akua has blessed you with. 'A'ohe inoa komo 'ole o ka 'ai. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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Alahula Pu'uloa, he alahele na Ka'ahupahau

Welina me ke aloha e nā hoa pepeiao. Greetings Morning Mana'o listeners. He momi kēia. Today's 'ōlelo no'eau is Alahula Pu'uloa, he alahele na Ka'ahupāhau. Everywhere in Pu'uloa is the trail of Ka'ahupāhau. This line is used in a mele very familiar to us, lohe pinepine 'ia, heard quite frequently, Pūpū A'o 'Ewa. It refers to the shark goddess, Ka'ahupāhau that lived at Pu'uloa and protected the people of the area from other sharks. Pu'uloa is wahi pana, place name for the area known today at Pearl Harbor. Ka'ahupāhau would move about constantly, watching out for other sharks and providing safety and protection for the kama'āina of Pu'uloa. Therefore, this 'ōlelo no'eau is said in reference to someone who exhibits these same characteristics - watchful, protective, looking out for others. It is also a poetic reference to someone who is familiar with a place and knows every corner, every nook and cranny. Reminds me of my Papa. He was always concerned about our welfare and very watchful over us. So much so that he often needed antacids to calm his ever so worried 'ōpū. He was a keen observer and when we would drive into the country he could identify every nook and cranny. Every turn had a story, every hill had a name. He knew what kind of fish to get ma kai at each gulch and where the pōhole was growing ma uka. Indeed, he was kama'āina with the land and nurtured it in the same special way he did his 'ohana. 'Ae, Alahula Pu'uloa, he alahele no Ka'ahupāhau. Aloha nō, a hui hou.
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He 'e'epa ke aloha . . .

He leo aloha iā kākou a pau e ka lehulehu! Greetings of love to you Morning Mana'o listeners. He momi kēia. I share with you this morning a precious pearl of wisdom spoken by our kūpuna. He 'e'epa ke aloha, he kula'ilua. Love is peculiar; it pushes in opposite directions. Puku'i interprets this 'ōlelo no'eau as, Love goes two ways, to love and to be loved. I like this 'ōlelo no'eau because it uses the word 'e'epa in a different way than we are probably accustomed to. Now 'e'epa has several meanings. It can mean deformed or abnormal. In Hawaiian mythology there are many references to 'e'epa, supernatural beings or humans born with extraordinary power and in unusual forms. Some were born as a plant or animal. In the mo'olelo of Kana he was born as a piece of rope. These 'e'epa have great powers and often could perform miraculous feats. An 'e'epa can also be a reference to a person who is deformed or maimed. In the story of Hi'iakaikapoliopele she greets an 'e'epa woman who has no arms or legs on the shores of Kahakuloa. On the other hand, 'e'epa can also mean peculiar and extraordinary. In this 'ōlelo no'eau 'e'epa is used to describe the peculiarity of love. We give love and we receive love. Sometimes love pushes in opposite directions. Sometimes we give love and it's not reciprocated. True love is shared, reciprocal and goes two ways - both given and received. Love can indeed be peculiar at times and love can be both exhilarating and painful. He 'e'epa ke aloha, he kula'ilua. Aloha nō, a hui hou!

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Kilakila

Aloha mai e nā hoa pepeiao! Today's Morning Mana'o is Kilalkila, which means majestic, tall and strong. It also means having poise that commands admiration. Kilakila 'o Maui. Maui is majestic. Kilakila 'o Haleakalā. Haleakalā is tall and strong. There is a beautiful mele written by Alice Keawekane entitled Kilakila 'o Maui. The mele talks about the roselani blossoms, the flower of Maui and describes its sweet smell that welcomes the visitor. It then describes the sea of Kahului, where fishermen laid their nets and then brought them into shore the next morning - hukikolo, hukihuki mālie. In the last verse it describes our island as Hanohano 'o Maui nō e ka 'oi. Proud is Maui, the best of all the islands. As a kama'aina of Maui, I agree that of all the islands in Hawai'i, Maui is indeed nō ka 'oi. There are so many things that make Maui the best and give it an essence of Kilakila, poise that commands admiration, but most of all it has to be the people. 'Ae, kilakila 'o Maui i ka roselani, ha'aheo 'o Maui nō e ka 'oi! Aloha nō, a hui hou!

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Pu'ili . . . embrace each other

Welina me ke aloha e nā hoa makamaka! Today's words is Pū'ili, which means to embrace, clasp, hold tightly. As I contemplate how fragile life is the word pū'ili is good reminder for us on many levels. First, the translation to embrace. We should embrace each other more often. We can begin by embracing those close to us more often and then extend our reach a bit and embrace those around us who are alone or who need to feel our arms around them. We should embrace life, with it's ups and downs, joy and sorrow. Life is what me make of it and we can choose to have an attitude of gratitude or to be bitter and full of resent. Second, let's consider the translation to hold tightly. We must hold tightly to the things that matter most - 'ohana, our family, keiki, our children, kūpuna, our elders, hoa aloha, our friends. These are the things that matter most and so we hold them close and grasp them tightly. Finally, let's look at the translation to clasp. When I think of the word clasp I think of jewelry. The clasp is what fastens the piece together. When we're wearing a necklace or bracelet, the clasp keeps it from falling off and being lost. This action directly applies to our 'ohana. We truly must pū'ili, clasp our families together. There is so much opposition in the world and much of it is directed to our families. Like a clasp that holds together our most precious gold and silver, we must keep our precious families bonded, close, connected and prevent them from falling apart and being lost. See how one word in our language can inspire such contemplation. What a wonderful reminder for us all. E pū'ili kākou kekahi i kekahi - may we all embrace each other, hold our loved ones close and clasp our families together here in this life and in the life to come. ke Akua pū, aloha nō, a hui hou!

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Maka'ala

Aloha mai kākou! Our word for today is Maka'ala, which means to be alert, aware, vigilant, watchful, wide awake. E maka'ala i kā hana. Be aware of what you are doing. He makuahine maka'ala 'o ia. She is a watchful mother. This word can apply to us in many different ways. There are things daily that we need to maka'ala, be aware of and alert to. As parents, we must maka'ala, be watchful and aware of our children. Some of us may even be in a phase of life where we need to maka'ala our own parents as we care for our kūpuna. In our families we are maka'ala. We watch out for each other. As we look beyond our immediate 'ohana we realize that we have to maka'ala in our communities as well. What are the issues we are facing? Where is my voice needed? What causes am I actively engaged in and how am I contributing to the world around me? We are maka'ala in the physical sense, but it important that we maka'ala on a spiritual level. Are we aware of our spiritual needs? Are we vigilant in filling our spiritual wells and making sure that we have reserves of spiritual strength for those challenging and difficult times that lie ahead of us? Sometimes we get so busy with life that we become less aware, less vigilant and less watchful of the things that matter most. This is a great opportunity for us to take an inventory of our level of maka'ala both physically and spiritually. Step back for a moment, tune in and maka'ala. E maka'ala kākou! Aloha nō, a hui hou!

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Hala

Aloha kakahiaka Morning Mana'o listeners! I've been thinking about hala lately. Probably has to do with the beautiful lei hala I saw this past weekend. Let's spend some time exploring this plant. Hawaiian Hala is the Pandanus tree. It is one of the most resourceful plants and was used in many different ways by our kūpuna. The leaves are woven into mats, sails, fans, bracelets and hats. The dried fruit is used as a paint brush. There are both male and female versions of hala. Even the talc of the male flower was used by our ancestors. The beautiful bright yellow and orange fruit are sewn into lei hala. Hala literally means to pass, elapse as time, to pass by or even to pass away. With that in mind, we should be careful when we use lei hala. So, what are some appropriate occasions to use hala or to give it? When someone is passing from one phase of life to the next, graduation perhaps, a hula 'ūniki or a moving up in their career or field, hala is very appropriate. I received lei hala at my 'ūniki signifying my transition to Kumu Hula. Lei hala would also be an appropriate lei at a funeral, symbolizing the passing from this life to the next life. It is an exceptionally beautiful lei! Hala is referred to in mele as well. Puna on the island of Hawai'i is famous for its hala and ka hala mapuana is associated with Kaua'i and in chant we hear of the hala from Naue. Hāmākuapoko here on our island of Maui is known for ka ua pe'e pūhala, the rain that makes one hide under the hala leaves. There are many 'ōlelo no'eau associated with this plant as well. Join me tomorrow as we explore some of them. Aloha nō, a hui hou!

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Paulele - Faith

Aloha kakahiaka e nā hoa pepeiao! Today's word is Paulele which means faith, confidence, trust, to believe implicitly, to lean on. Paulele au i ke Akua. I have faith in God. Paulele au iā 'oe. I trust you or I believe in you. When we think about our journey in life we realize that paulele, faith is so important. We don't always know why things are happening, we don't often know what the exact outcome will be, however, we exercise faith and we continue to press forward. There are times in life where we must paulele, trust in others, in the bigger plan and in ourselves. Depending on our current circumstances, especially in these unpredictable and uncertain times, we will have to paulele, lean on others. As we face life's experiences we learn to develop our faith and begin to trust implicitly in Ke Akua's plan for us. There's a beautiful song translated into Hawaiian called Hea I Ka Haku that speaks about paulele, this kind of faith. Holunape does a beautiful rendition. You can check them out at www.holunape.com. If you get a chance today, listen to the words, think about it and enjoy! Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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E pi'i i ka pali me he papa'i la . . .

Ke welina aloha iā kākou a pau e nā makamaka! Last night as I sat with two of my sons I asked them to share with me some of 'ōlelo no'eau that they know. I was happy to hear that they knew quite a few and that we've discussed most of them through Morning Mana'o. Then Kamalei shared one that made me think and started a great conversation. E pi'i i ka pali me he pāpa'i lā. Climb the cliff like a crab. I asked Ehu and Kamalei to share with me their mana'o pertaining to this 'ōlelo no'eau. Kamalei said that he felt it was like the mana'o Kūlia i ka nu'u, to strive for the summit for strive for the top of the cliff. Ehu said that to him it meant that we can do anything as long as we try. I then asked them why they thought the analogy of a crab was used. What advantage does a crab have in climbing the pali over anything else? In our discussion we talked about how crabs seem to glide over the rocks with such ease. Even if the rocks are moving upward, the crab is able to scale the rocks and even the sides of cliffs very easily. It moves quickly and doesn't let anything get in it's way. As we look closer at the kaona we find that pali, cliffs are often used to symbolize pilikia, challenges, difficulties and obstacles. When we ask someone, pehea 'oe? one of the responses we can get is, 'o ia mau nō i ke alo o nā pali, a poetic way of saying, I am fine as usual in spite of my trials. This 'ōlelo no'eau that Kamalei shared tells us how to face the pali in our lives - with determination, not letting anything get in our way. So, dear listeners, I live you with this charge inspired by my children - E pi'i i ka pali me he pāpa'i lā. Climb those cliffs like a crab! Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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'Ohana Series - I maika'i ke kalo i ka 'oha.

Aloha mai e ka lehulehu! Hau'oli Pō'alima Aloha! Happy Aloha Friday! It's all about 'ohana today. I maika'i ke kalo i ka 'ohā. The taro is judged good by its offspring. There is so much kaona in this 'ōlelo no'eau. First, the word 'ohā translates as taro corm, growing from the older root. It also means offshoot or offspring and youngster. 'Ohā is the root of the word 'ohana and so we see the connection between kalo and the 'ohana. This connection goes all the way back to the creation. In the story of Papa and Wākea we find that Ho'ohōkūkalani has a still born child who is buried and from that spot sprouts forth the first taro plant. Her second child is Hāloa, our first ancestor. Understanding these things further deepens our understanding of the pilina, or relationship we have as Hawaiians to this plant. Now, the 'ōlelo no'eau says that we, as parents, or kalo are judged to be good by the actions of our 'ohā, our offspring, our children. Our children then become a reflection of us as mākua. Again, we see the tremendous kuleana we have as mākua. Think about it. When a child does something good or bad the first question often is, "Who's your mother or father?", particularly if the child is doing something negative. We do the best we possibly can with our keiki and then we allow them to make choices in life, choices that hopefully reflect positively on us as parents. Our kūpuna who left us words of wisdom to help us as we raise their mamo, their descendants. I hopenapule maika'i. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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'Ohana Series - 'O ka makua ke keiki o ka hale . . .

Welina me ke aloha e nā 'ohana o Maui nei! We're talking about 'ohana today and so our 'ōlelo no'eau relates to family. 'O ka makua ke ko'o o ka hale e pa'a ai. The parent is the pillar that holds the family together. Our physical homes are built upon good, solid foundations. Every home has essential beams and pillars that literally hold the house together. If the foundation slips, the entire house can shift and crumble. So it is if one of these beams or pillars breaks. Our ancestors related this to our 'ohana, our families. The makua, the parent is viewed as the pillar that fastens the structure of the home together. Now, let's think about our homes. Ever heard the saying, if Mom's unhappy, everyone's unhappy? Indeed, as parents we have the power to greatly influence our families. We set the tone in our homes. Are we creating heavenly homes, filled with joy and happiness? Our our homes a safe haven for our 'ohana, where we can find peace, love unconditional and comfort? Some homes have two pillars holding it together while other homes have just one strong, steadfast pillar holding up the entire house. Whatever our circumstances may be, as parents, we have the kuleana of upholding the structure of our homes. Yes, it is a heavy kuleana at times and keeping a family knit together in love is challenging and takes hard work, but the rewards are eternal. A wise man once said, "No earthly accomplishments can compensate for failure in the home. The greatest work we will ever do is within the walls of our own homes." Does this mean we will be perfect? Absolutely not, but words of wisdom like these help to inspire us to continue onward and to fight the good fight for the sake of our 'ohana. 'O ka makua ke ko'o o ka hale e pa'a ai. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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Aloha mai e nā hoa pepeiao! I’ve been thinking about 'ohana lately and thought we would spend some time looking at various 'ōlelo no'eau and vocabulary that describe the pilina, relationships within an 'ohana. Let’s begin today by discussing four basic words - keiki, 'ōpio, makua and kūpuna. Keiki literally means child, but it can also mean boy or son. We differentiate by saying keikikāne for boy and either keikiwahine or kaikamahine for girl. In the next stage of life, around 12 or 13 we become 'ōpio, youth or juvenile. This is the term we use for adolescents and teenagers. Now, if we say 'ōpiopio we are referring to someone who is immature, still young or on the positive side, you could be referring to someone who still looks youthful. For example, He 'ōpio 'o Kamalani. Kamalani is a teenager. 'Ōpiopio 'o Luana. Luana looks so young. As we grow and mature we become makua. This is the parent age and makua literally means parent or any relative of the parent age, aunts, uncles, cousins of this age were all referred to as makua and likewise they all had the kuleana of being parents to the younger family members. Makua eventually age, gain wisdom and become kūpuna, the elders. Kūpuna literally means grandparent, ancestor or relative of the grandparent age. Four phases in life all intertwined, each playing a vital role in the 'ohana. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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Waiola

Aloha kakahiaka e nā hoa aloha o ka lekiō! Hau'oli Pō'alima Aloha! Happy Aloha Friday! Today I will be heading to Maui Komohana, West Maui to the land known as Ka malu 'ulu o Lele, the shaded breadfruit trees of Lele to the Moku of Waine'e and the area known as Waiola. Waiola translates as the living or life giving waters. Quite an appropriate name for this place. Although we may not see water there today, we know that ka wai ola once maintained the traditional fishpond of Mokuhinia and that fresh water springs lined the shore. We can see evidence of the fresh water that once flowed in abundance ma kai where bubbling springs can still make their way from below the surface to the lihikai, the shoreline. We know that our ali'i lived at and frequented this area. Right in the heart of this place is historic Waiola Church where Keōpūolani, the sacred wife of Kamehameha chose to be buried and many of our high ranking ali'i followed in her footsteps. We can visit Waiola today and still see the names of these ali'i marking their final resting places. Today, I will be there with some of our students, working, cleaning and honoring this sacred wahi pana. When was the last time that you visited this place? Just think, when visit these sites and more importantly when we add our mana by taking care of these place, we reinstate the ola, the life force that once existed. E ola mau nō ka mana o Waiola! Aloha ō, a hui hou!

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Mana'o

Aloha mai e nā hoa makamaka! Each day I share with you Morning Mana'o, but have we ever discussed what the word mana'o means? Well, today is our opportunity. The word mana'o literally translates as thought, idea, belief, opinion or theory. It can also mean desire, want, to think. We have many opportunities to formulate our own mana'o, opinions and ideas. We also have the opportunity to share our mana'o. When we are asked the question, Pehea kou mana'o? What do you think?, we should be prepared to have an answer. Whatever your mana'o is, be prepared to share it. There will be times when your mana'o may be different from other people's mana'o. It is at these times when we need to be 'onipa'a, steadfast in our beliefs and ideas. So how do we gain mana'o? As we gain 'ike, wisdom and intelligence, as we 'imi na'auao, seek after learning, we begin to create our own mana'o. We listen to each others mana'o, we digest it, but ultimately we form our own mana'o. That's what makes us unique. The mana'o I share with you each day is my perspective, my take on our culture, language and the wisdom of our kūpuna. You have the opportunity to hear it, absorb it, ponder it, share it, whatever you wish. 'O ko'u mana'o wale nō kēia, after all, it's just my mana'o. So, the next time you are asked to share your mana'o or the question is posed, pehea kou mana'o, what will you say? How will you respond? Aloha nō, a hui hou!

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Mehana

Aloha kakahiaka e ko Maui! Today's word is mehana, which can also be said, mahana. It means warm, warmth, warm as in temperature. You can ask the question, 'Ehia ka mehana o kēia lā? What's the temperature today? Mehana also means warm as in feelings. The word pumehana means warm, affectionate, warm hearted. Me ke aloha pumehana translates as with warm aloha. Ho'omehana means to warm or to create warmth. So we see that the day can be mehana, warm as in temperature - mehana kēia lā, today is warm. In addition we can say, pumehana kēlā wahine - that woman is warm and affectionate. Ka mehana o ka lā, the warmth of the sun. We are blessed to live in a place where we can feel the warmth of the sun and at the same time we are surrounded by people who are filled with ke aloha pumehana, warm feelings of love. Take some time today to notice the mehana o ka lā and to share some of that warmth through your words and actions. Me ke aloha pumehana . . . Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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Ho'ohanohano

Welina me ke aloha! Hau'oli Pō'alima Aloha, Happy Aloha Friday! Today's Hawaiian word is Ho'ohanohano, which comes from the word hanohano. Hanohano translates as glorious, magnificent, noble, stately, dignified and grand. Hanohano 'o Maui, Maui is glorious. When we add ho'o to it we get ho'ohanohano which means to honor, exalt and glorify. To conduct oneself with distinction. We ho'ohanohano people in our lives, particularly our kūpuna. We take the time to honor and praise them. We ho'ohanohano accomplishments, progress, milestones. This weekend we will ho'ohanohano the many people who have been a part of the Hawaiian language revitalization through Ke Kula Kaiapuni. We celebrate 20 years of hanohano, glorious work and contributions from Kumu, Mākua and Keiki. When we learn our language and when we speak it, we ho'ohanohano, honor our ancestors who came before us. I ulu nō ka lālā i ke kumu, for we are here because of them. Ola nā iwi, the bones of ancestors live. Our kūpuna live on through us. He mea hanohano ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i, the Hawaiian language is a glorious thing. E ola ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i, may it live forever. Aloha nō, a hui hou!
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Kaona

'Ano'ai me ke aloha e nā makamaka aloha nui i ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i! Our Morning Mana'o today focuses on kaona and was inspired by Jamaica Osorio and her poetic interpretation of Kaona. Kaona literally translates as hidden meaning, as in poetry. It can be a concealed reference to a person, place or thing. Kaona is the double meaning that can bring good or bad fortune. When we look at Hawaiian music we find layer upon layer of kaona. A good haku mele composes a song rich with kaona. So rich that as you peel away the layers you find stories hidden within stories, messages and suggestions that play on our imaginations. So intertwined that you are left to wonder what the true meaning of the song is. Learning hula as a child Aunty Nina would share all kinds of Hawaiian music with us. As a child, I knew one level of kaona. As a grew up and began to understand the language, my understanding of these mele expanded as well. But, as I've gone through life experiences the kaona has become even richer and my understanding has deepened. When I first learned the mele Hi'ilawe I knew it to be a song about Waipi'o and the famous waterfall there. Later in life I came to understand that the kaona of the mele revealed a secret love affair talked about like the chattering of birds among the people of Waipi'o. Now kaona is not just limited to Hawaiian mele. There can be kaona when we speak. Our 'ōlelo no'eau are filled with kaona. Even our actions have kaona, double and hidden meanings to them. When Lili'uokalani was imprisoned in 'Iolani Palace, her people would bring her flowers wrapped in newspaper. There was kaona in their actions. This allowed Lili'u to be kept abreast of the latest news happening outside the palace windows. See the kaona. Their gift was much more than just flowers. Yes, indeed, he kaona ko nā mea a pau, everything has kaona. The more we understand our language, the more skillful we become in the art of kaona. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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I ka 'olelo no ke ola, i ka 'olelo no ka make

He leo aloha kēia iā 'oukou e nā hoa pepeiao! E ola ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i. Indeed, the Hawaiian language lives. As I think about our language one particular 'ōlelo no'eau keeps coming to my mind. I ka 'ōlelo nō ke ola, i ka 'ōlelo nō ka make, in the language there is life, in the language there is death. Now, I know I've shared this one before and we've talked about how there is mana in the spoken word. Our words can used in both positive and negative ways and words have a lasting impression on us. Let's look at this proverb from a slightly different perspective today. In the language there is life. When we learn our mother tongue and then when we use what we have learned, and speak the words, our language becomes alive and our culture more vibrant. When we do not learn our language and we do not speak Hawaiian, there is death. For many years our language suffered and was on the verge of extinction. People were forced to speak English, punished for speaking Hawaiian. Hawaiian was not heard very often in public, if at all and those who spoke it often felt ashamed. But today, things have changed. We hear our language being spoken in public, on the radio, even on television. You can hear a daily news program in Hawaiian. You can read newspapers written in Hawaiian. You can even legally write your checks in Hawaiian. Times have changed. Now why is it so important to speak Hawaiian? You see, when a culture loses it's language, it ceases to exist. Our language is vital to the perpetuation of our Hawaiian culture, of our people, of the legacy left for us by our kūpuna. No laila, so then, if you don't speak Hawaiian yet, it's never too late. E ola ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i! Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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Kupa'a

Aloha mai e nā hoaaloha o ke kakahiaka! E ola mau ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i. We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Hawaiian Language Immersion here on Maui. In honor of this milestone, I will introduce a new word each day for us to ponder. Today's word is kūpa'a, which means steadfast, firm and immovable. It also can mean loyal, faithful and determined. When we think of the Kula Kaiapuni program and its early, humble beginnings, kūpa'a is a word that fits well. Parents had to be steadfast and immovable as they faced legal challenges, set backs and many obstacles as the program was first being established. Just think, they had to change the law that had been in effect for over 90 years that banned the Hawaiian language from being used in public schools. With limited supplies, mākua and kumu worked together, creating their own curriculum and literally, 'oki a tuko, cutting and pasting books together in Hawaiian. For some, the challenges were too much and we lost members of our Kaiapuni 'ohana through the years. But many remained kัpa'a, loyal and faithful to the mission, the revitalization of our native language. The challenges were not limited to mākua and kumu alone, even the keiki had to be kūpa'a as progressed each year, with little resources to assist them. Now, twenty years later, we see the fruits of our labor. We see the blessings of mākua, kumu and keiki who have exemplified the quality, kūpa'a. Some keiki have now returned to immersion as kumu, continuing the legacy, fulfilling the dream. In the song Kaulana Nā Pua we hear the line, kūpa'a ma hope o ka 'āina, ever loyal to the land. Today we can say, kūpa'a ma hope o ka 'ōlelo, we are loyal to our langauge. 'Ae, e ola mau nō ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i, indeed, the Hawaiian language lives! Aloha nō, a hui hou!

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Le'ale'a

Welina me ke aloha e nā hoa pepeiao! E ola ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i, the Hawaiian language lives. As we celebrate the Hawaiian Immersion program here on Maui in its 20th year, let's focus on our 'ōlelo Hawai'i this week. Today's word is Le'ale'a which comes from the word le'a. It means joy, pleasure, to have a good time, to have fun. Laule'a means happiness, peace and friendship. When we add ho'o to the word we get ho'olaule'a, celebration, gathering, festival, to restore friendship and peace. This past weekend was filled with so much le'ale'a for our 'ohana. We celebrated with family and friends, we watched a loved one begin her journey in marriage. We danced, we sang, we laughed and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly! We all live busy lives and it is important for us to take time to include le'ale'a, joyfulness in our ives. We also need to set aside time to ho'olaule'a, come together to celebrate life's milestones. There are many reasons to celebrate. This week we celebrate 20 years of Hawaiian Language Immersion here on our island Maui. Our language is living, thriving once again. From our little keiki to our wise kūpuna, people are speaking the mother tongue of this land! This is something to celebrate! Tune in this week as celebrate the revitalization of the Hawaiian language and the impacts of Ke Kula Kaiapuni and as we do so, may we find le'ale'a, joy and happiness along the way! Aloha nō, a hui hou!

Kolohe!

E nā makamaka aloha nui 'ia, hau'oli Pō'alima Aloha! Beloved friends, Happy Aloha Friday! Let's end our week on a light note with a fun Hawaiian word - Kolohe. Many of us are familiar with this word. As a matter of fact, I'm sure most of us have used it before. Let's look closely at its meaning. Kolohe translates as mischievous, naughty, rascal and prankster. Kolohe ke keiki. The child is naughty. Kolohe kona makuakāne. His father is a rascal. We can use this word with our keiki, as a reminder to behave. Mai hana kolohe. Don't be naughty. Now, of course this word can have a very negative connotation. In certain contexts it can mean unethical, unprincipled and even illegal. But, for the most part, when we use the word kolohe it is meant in a lighter way. Kolohe wale! Just a prankster. 'O 'oe ma ka hana kolohe. You for act naughty. I think we all have a little kolohe in us. The key is to use in a way that creates laughter and fun without getting too out of control. We balance that kolohe within each us with pono, that moral compass that points us in the right direction. So, the next time you use the word kolohe, think about the context in which you are using it and make sure there's balance. I hopenapule maika'i ia kākou a pau. Have a fabulous weekend. Aloha nō a hui hou.

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Nana i ke kumu . ..

Aloha kakahiaka! He momi kēia. Nānā i ke kumu. Look to the source. Nānā meaning look and kumu meaning source. This 'ōlelo no'eau can be interpreted in many ways. It reminds us to look to the resources around us for answers, guidance and direction. When I think of this 'ōlelo no'eau the source for me is our beloved kūpuna, our elders. They are full of wisdom gained through the many life experiences they have had. When we need answers to our questions, we can look to our kūpuna to provide answers. Now, if we closer at this proverb we find that nānā can also mean to observe and kumu can mean teacher. We could interpret this wise saying as look to the teachers. There are many teachers surrounding us in life. Whatever it is that we are experiencing in our life, there is a "teacher" we can look to who has already been through it and can be a shining example to us. These teachers are our parents, 'ohana, good friends. They can be older than us and even younger. Even our children teach us many lessons and can be great examples to us of forgiveness, kindness, love unconditional. At times, we are the kumu, we are the teachers who teach others through our example. Now, when we observe these teachers we do more than just look at them. The word observe means that we look, study, carefully watch these kumu around us. So, as we experience life and as we face decisions, nānā i ke kumu, look to source, observe the teachers around us. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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Lanakila

Welina me ke aloha iā kākou a pau! Today's Hawaiian word to ponder and apply is lanakila, which means triumph, victory, to win, beat, overcome. Ua lanakila au. I won. E lanakila ana 'o ia. He or she is going to win. When we look closer at this word we find that it also means to conquer and to outwit. Warriors of old trained for battle. They went through physical rigor, but just as important was the mental and spiritual training and preparation. When Kamehameha came to Maui to fight the Battle of Kepaniwai, he didn't just bring with him brut and brawn, he was planful in his preparation and even strategic. He pushed our Maui forces back into the valley of 'Iao using muscle and force, but he strategically planned to use modern weaponry and modern ammunition to surprise the Maui forces and to lanakila, conquer. So it is with us in life. We may have physical battles we must fight and this requires us to ho'oikaika, strengthen ourselves physically for the battle. There are times when we must fight battles using our intellect, being creative in our strategy and like Kamehameha, planful in our preparation. Just as the word lanakila has subtle differences in meaning, we can use different strategies, different approaches when we need to lanakila, be victorious in any of the battles we are facing. This can especially apply to our children. How do we win them over, how do we outwit them, how can we be victorious as parents. We'll talk more about that tomorrow. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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E ho'oikaika - Pa'a Ke Kahua

Aloha mai e nā makamaka o ke kakahiaka! E ola ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i. Yesterday we talked about the word ikaika, meaning strength and power and ho'oikaika, to become strong, to strengthen. The question posed was how do we ho'oikaika or strengthen our kahua. Let's first look at the word kahua. Literally it means foundation, base, location. It can mean the bed of stream, camping area and playground. It also means platform, like that of a house. In this context we can see why it is so important to have a strong kahua, without one, the house is in jeopardy of falling apart. Hmmm . . . makes me think of a story of a wise man who built his house upon the rock and when the rains came tumbling down his house stood still. The not so wise man built his house on sand and when the rains came down and the floods came up his house was washed away. This little mo'olelo emphasizes the importance of building a strong kahua. When we think of ways to ho'oikaika our kahua the first thing that comes to mind is 'ike, knowledge. Now let's think about 'ike, knowledge and intellect. We can study and learn and build our intellect, but the greatest learning comes through experience. As we have experiences in our lives, both positive and negative, we grow and gain a different level of 'ike. 'Ike also means to know, see, feel. This kind of 'ike comes through experiences. We learn how to handle our future situations better and we learn how to help others who are experiencing the things we have already experienced. Each experience builds upon the next and helps to solidify our kahua, and thus, we begin to see the process of ho'oikaika. Tune in tomorrow as we continue our discovery through ka 'ōlelo makuahine, our mother tongue. Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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Ikaika, strength

Welina me ke aloha e nā hoa aloha! In the spirit of e ola ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i, the Hawaiian Language lives, I share with a Hawaiian word for today, Ikaika. Now many of us understand this word ikaika to mean strong or strength. Pololei, absolutely correct. Ikaika has other meanings as well - stalwart, sturdy, powerful, force, energy and might. Ikaika 'o ia. He or she is strong. Nui kona ikaika. She has great strenght. Ikaika can also mean potent. Ikaika ka mea 'inu. The drink is strong or potent. Ho'oikaika means to strengthen, make a great effort, work hard, encourage. Now time for the application. How do we apply this concept of ikaika into our own lives? As we face life's challenges, we need to draw upon the ikaika within each of us. We never know what trials are coming our way and what we are about to face, whether it be physical challenges, heartbreak or disappointment, we need to constantly make an effort to ho'oikaika, strengthen ourselves each day. As we find ways to ho'oikaika both physically and spiritually, we are better prepared to meet those challenges that creep up on us out of nowhere and at times catch us of guard. When we have reserves of ikaika o loko, inner strength, we can draw upon it even in our most difficult times. Our kahua, our foundation needs to be ikaika, strong and immovable so that, like the lyrics of one of my favorite songs, "when upon life's billows we are tempest tossed, do not be discouraged thinking all is lost." So just how do we ho'oikaika and prepare a solid kahua for ourselves? Let's continue to explore our language tomorrow for some answers. No laila, e ho'olohe mai, so don't forget to listen in! Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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E ho'i ke aloha i Ni'ihau

E nā makamaka aloha nui 'ia, Welina me ke aloha! Oh, it's time for a mele today. I've decided to share a traditional mele and hula kahiko for Queen Kapi'olani. There are many chants written for our ali'i and Queen Kapi'olani is no exception. This particular mele speaks of Kapi'olani's journey to the island of Ni'ihau. After her visit, the people wrote this mele for her, commemorating the time she spent on their island. In the first verse we learn of "ka wai huna a ka pao'o", the hidden waters of the pao'o fish. The pao'o is a type of 'o'opu that can jump from one tide pool to the next. Ni'ihau is known for tidepools along the seashore and the pao'o can be seen jumping to and fro. In the second verse we learn about ka 'ulu hua i ka hāpapa, the low lying breadfruit trees that grow in the sand and are easily accessible and ke kō 'eli a 'o Hālāli'i the famous sugar cane stalks that were used in traditional ceremony. Hālāli'i is mentioned as both a place name on Ni'ihau and the name of a beloved chief. In the third verse we learn of the hot sun, 'o ka la welawela i ke kula, that beams upon the plains of Ni'ihau causing one to turn his back toward Kaua'i, huli aku ke alo i Kaua'i. The fourth verse speaks of Nihoa, eia Nihoa ma hope i ka moku hāpapa i ke kai, the flat atoll clearly visible from Ni'ihau. The final verse honors Kapi'olani for whom this mele is written. Hā'ina 'ia mai ka puana, no Kapi'olani nō he inoa. He inoa no Kapi'olani. Now, listen to the mele, envision the poetry I've shared and enjoy! Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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Pupukahi i holomua . . .

'Auhea 'oukou e nā hoa pepeiao? He momi kēia! This morning I share with you a wise saying of our kūpuna. Pupukahi i holomua. Unite to move forward. When we look closely at this 'ōlelo no'eau we see that by working together we move forward and make progress. The key to working together is lōkahi, unity. But how do we bring a group of diverse people together and ho'olōkahi, create unity and oneness among them? We know it is not an easy task, but it is possible. First we need a good alaka'i, a good leader. The alaka'i finds commonalities in the group, provides motivation and inspiration and keeps the group on task. Second, we must have vision. When we have a common goal and everyone can visualize the end result, we become unified by the mission and leave our own personal agendas aside. Third, there needs to be a degree of ha'aha'a, humility within each person. Ku'ia ka hele a ka na'au ha'aha'a, hesitant walks the humble hearted. When we put others before ourselves we create harmony, closeness and genuine concern for each other. This builds unity. The alaka'i is the key example of ha'aha'a. When we think of our ali'i, the highest ranking nobles in traditional and post contact Hawaiian society, they exemplified the ability to ho'olōkahi, bring a group together in harmony and unity. This is what made them successful ali'i, for an ali'i cannot really be an ali'i without followers - people who support them, follow them and heed their words. We can learn much from the examples of our traditional alaka'i, the leaders of old. Pupukahi i holomua! Aloha nō, a hui hou!

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Kikaha ka 'iwa . . .

Aloha kakahiaka. Pehea mai nei 'oukou e nā hoa aloha? Many of us have been franticly preparing, bracing even for Tropical Storm Felicia. If you are like me, you've been searching the internet for the latest updates, receiving Twits from KGMB 9 and checking the County on call line for the latest news. As I was busy doing all of this, I stopped for a moment and turned to the mana'o of our kūpuna to bring me perspective. How did they know a storm was coming? How did they prepare? As Hawaiians, they recognized the hō'ailona that were present in the natural world around them. One of which would be the 'iwa bird, gliding in the sky. The 'iwa bird is associated with changes in weather, pending storms, high winds and rain. They would retreat ma uka prior to a storm. When the 'iwa gathered together and flew inland to the uplands, this was a hō'ailona or sign. Now, even rain itself was not looked at as a hinderence. Instead, our ancestors said, Uē ka lani, ola ka honua - when the heavens cry the earth lives. This wise saying helps to give me perspective. The ua provides much needed nourishment to the earth. I see the elements as hō'ailona or signs, reminders that we are but mere mortals and that only a divine creator could have the power, might and wisdom to create such beauty and natural wonders. Ah, lucky live Hawai'i, I am so laki (lucky) to live here and to witness nature in her glory each day. For those of you far from home, I hope that I am able to bring you some of Hawai'i through Morning Mana'o and you can feel the aloha that I am blessed to breath in each day. Aloha no, a hui hou. CLICK HERE to listen to and download the Morning Mana'o Podcast.

Hawaiian World View - Ua ao ka po, ua eo ka po i ke ao . . .

Ua ao ka pō, ua eo ka pō i ke ao.

Welina me ke aloha e ku'u mau hoa pepeiao! Hawaiian world view. What does that mean? It means that our kūpuna had a unique way of viewing the world they lived in. This unique view is what separates Hawaiian culture from other cultures. It is what makes being Hawaiian so special. Let’s take some time to look at tidbits of our culture that help us to understand the Hawaiian world view. This requires each of us to ho'ā ka maka, open our eyes and look at the world through the eyes of our kūpuna. Today we look at the meaning of a short phrase in Hawaiian, Ua ao ka pō, ua eo ka pō i ke ao. The night has become daylight, the night has loss to daylight. Ao literally translates as day or light and pō translates as night. Ua ao ka pō, the night became light. Eo in this context translates as loss. Ua eo ka pō, the night has loss, i ke ao, because of the light or to the light. As our kūpuna observed the dawn of a new day they saw the darkness of night and the light of day in a battle of sorts. Both co-exist, but one becomes more dominant than the other, creating the diverseness of day and night. When pō loses the battle, dawn breaks and when ao loses the battle, night falls. This perspective takes us all the way back to the Kumulipo, the creation chant, where day or light and darkness or night is born.

‘O ka lipolipo, ‘o ka lipolipo, ‘o ka lipo o ka lā, ‘o ka lipo o ka pō.

Pō wale ho'i, hānau ka pō. Hānau kumulipo i ka pō he kāne, hānau pō'ele i ka pō he wahine.

It introduces us to Hawaiian dualism. We’ll talk more about duality in Hawaiian culture tomorrow. For now, think about the dawn of a new day and if you have a chance, put on your Hawaiian eyes and watch the sunrise.

Aloha nō, a hui hou! CLICK HERE to listen to and download the Morning Mana'o Podcast.

Kahekili, wiwo'ole

Aloha kakahiaka e ko Maui! Happy Aloha Friday! As we conclude our series on the great chief, Kahekilinui'ahumanu there is one word that comes to mind, wiwo'ole. Wiwo'ole translates as fearless, brave, courageous and bold. When we think of Kahekili and his life, we can agree that this chief was wiwo'ole. His large stature made him confident in his physical power. His genealogy assured him of his place in society. His dedication to his Akua gave him the spiritual strength and guidance needed to lead his people and his warriors. He leaped from great heights, fought fierce battles, led entourages of warriors and ruled his Kingdom with pride and dignity. We can learn from Kahekili's example of wiwo'ole. There are times in our lives when we must show this kind of courage and boldness. When we are faced with challenges what are the things that we can draw upon that make us as fearless as Kahekili. May I suggest a few - first, Ke Akua. When our lives our centered on Ke Akua we draw upon Him for the spiritual strength we need to overcome the challenges we are faced with. 'Ohana, family. Our 'ohana is a source of strength to us. In times of need we know that we can turn to our 'ohana. Hoaaloha, friends. We all have special people in our lives that support us, lend a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on and words of advice. We draw upon their strength in times of weakness and uncertainty. These sources of strength help us to be wiwo'ole, fearless, brave and bold as we take this journey called life. E wiwo'ole kākou. Aloha nō, a hui hou. CLICK HERE to download and listen to the Morning Mana'o Podcast.

Kahekili & The Art of Lele Kawa

Aloha pumehana kākou e nā hoa pepeiao! We continue with our series on the great chief Kahekili by exploring the art of Lele Kawa. Lele Kawa is the sport jumping feet first off of cliffs into the water below with the least amount of splash possible. Lele Kawa can also be jumping from smaller hills onto the soft soil below. Although our ancestors were probably diving off of cliffs even before Kahekili's time, this great chief made this sport famous and talked about throughout the world. It was one of his favorite pastimes and he especially enjoyed challenging his warriors to jump after him. There are two spots here on Maui called Kahekili's leap. The first is in Kahakuloa and the second in Kā'anapali at the rock peninsula known as Pu'u Keka'a, or commonly called today, Black Rock. Now Kahekili was known to jump from heights of 200-300 feet. Pu'u Keka'a is significantly lower in height but what makes this leap so important is the spiritual essence of this place. Pu'u Keka'a is a leina or 'uhane lele, where the spirits of those who have passed on leap from this life into the ancestral realm. It is also where our iwi kūpuna were laid to rest, the bones of our ancestors. No one dared to walk out onto the jagged rocks, let alone jump from it's heights. When Kahekili leaped from Pu'u Keka'a, with no harm falling upon him, he became God like in the eyes of his warriors and his people. His mana was evident to all who witnessed this great feat. Again we see just how powerful this ali'i was. Eō Kahekilinui'ahumanu. Join us tomorrow as we conclude our series in honor of Kahekili. Aloha nō, a hui hou. CLICK HERE to listen to and download the Morning Mana'o Podcast.

Kahekili, great chief of Maui

Aloha mai e nā makamaka, nā hoa aloha o Maui nui a Kama! There are many noted ali'i in Hawaiian history and many of them are from our island, Maui. Let’s look at one particular ali'i, the great chief, Kahekili. Kahekilinui'ahumanu was born at Häli'imaile to high chief Kekaulikekalaniku’ihonoikamoku and high chiefess, Keku'iapōiwanui. Like other great chiefs he excelled in Hawaiian sports and was particularly known for lele kawa, the art of cliff diving. Kahekili stood 7 feet tall and weighed over 300 lbs. Imagine how intimidating it must have been to stand in his presence. Adding to this was the fact that he tattooed the entire right side of his body black, in honor of his God, Kānehekili. In 1775 Kahekili becomes the successor to his brother Kamehamehanui'ailū'au, inheriting the islands of Maui, Moloka'i, Lāna'i and parts of O'ahu under his rule. Through his many undefeated battles, Kahekili proves to be a great and powerful chief and rules supreme for almost 30 years. He truly was the manifestation of mana. We'll be learning more about this great chief over the next few days. Tune in tomorrow as we learn more about the art of Lele Kawa, cliff diving and Kahekili’s role in this sport. Aloha nō, a hui hou. CLICK HERE to listen to and download the Morning Mana'o Podcast.

He 'opu ali'i - Hau'oli La Hanau e Kamalei!

Aloha kakahiaka e nā mamo o Maui! Today is a special day for our 'ohana. Kamalei, our first born son is celebrating his 13th birthday. As I pondered about Kamalei and his 'ano or personality an 'ōlelo no'eau came to my mind – He 'ōpů ali'i. Literally this wise saying and traditional proverb translates as, “the heart of a chief.” So what exactly does this mean and how does it apply to Kamalei and to us in our own lives. When we think of ali'i or the royalty of ancient times we must put on our cultural lenses. The ali'i were thought to be the Gods here on earth and as such they were treated with the utmost respect and often feared. But this 'ōlelo no'eau reminds us to have the heart of a chief. What kind of heart does a chief has? A Hawaiian chief had to be a good leader. He led by example. Like Kamehameha who worked along side his people in the taro patch of 'Āpuakëhau. A Hawaiian chief took care of his people and made sure they were provided for. He ensured their safety and that they had the resources needed to support their subsistence lifestyle. A Hawaiian chief was faithful to his God and worshipped reverently. Now, when I think of Kamalei, he truly has the heart of a chief. He is a good leader and leads by example. He can bring a group of people together to focus on a task and he is not afraid to work along side them. He is kind and thinks of others and their welfare before himself and his eye is single to the glory of ke Akua, his God. At the tender age of 13 he possesses these wonderful qualities. I look forward to seeing the man that Kamalei will become as he nurtures these traits and continues to grow. We all can have an 'ōpū ali'i, the heart of chief as we walk humbly, care for others and lead by example. Hau'oli lā hānau e Kamalei. We are so proud of the pono young man you are. Aloha nō, a hui hou! CLICK HERE to listen to and download the Morning Mana'o Podcast.

'Inikiniki malie . . .

Aloha kakahiaka e nā hoa pepeiao! Good morning, Morning Mana'o listeners! It’s the beginning of a busy week for many of us, so let’s start our week with some nahenahe, soothing music. The mele I have chosen to share today takes us on a huaka'i or journey to Nā Wai 'Ehā, the four famous waters of Maui. It is sometimes referred to as Waikapū, but it is also called 'Īnikiniki Mālie. The mele takes us to each ahupua'a and shares with us the wind and rain of the area. It begins first in Waikapū and says, “Waikapū, makani Kokololio. Makani houhou 'ili. 'Īnikiniki mālie. Waikapū, the Kokololio wind. The wind that makes the skin tingle, a gentle pinch.” The Kokolio wind of Waikapū is a strong, gusty wind, but Kokololio also means rapid flowing water. The second verse takes us to Wailuku and says, “Wailuku makani lawe mālie. Makani houhou ÿili, 'īnikiniki mālie. Wailuku, the gentle wind. The wind the makes the skin tingle, a gentle pinch.” Wailuku is famous for the calm, refreshing makani lawe mālie, a gentle breeze that comes down from the valley and cools the kula plains. In the third verse we arrive in the ahupua'a of Waiehu and it says, “Waiehu, makani hō'eha 'ili. Makani houhou hou 'ili, 'īnikiniki mälie. Waiehu, the skin the hurts the skin. The breeze makes my skin tingle, a gentle pinch.” Waiehu is known for the makani hō'eha 'ili, a wind that stings the skin. The fourth verse brings us to the fourth stream and the ahupua'a of Waihe'e. It recalls the Kili'o'opu wind, a wind said to bring with it the smell of the 'o'opu fish being steamed lāwalu style, wrapped in ti-leaves. The mele ends with the traditional, “Hā'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana. Makani houhou 'ili, 'īnikiniki mālie. Here ends my story of the winds that make the skin tingle, a gentle pinch upon my skin.” No laila, e huaka'i mai, journey with me through song to Nā Wai 'Ehā. Aloha nō, a hui hou. CLICK HERE to listen to and download the Morning Mana'o Podcast.

Hula, the heart beat of the Hawaiian people . . .

Aloha Pō'alima iā kākou! Happy Aloha Friday. I don’t know about you, but I am ready for a fabulous weekend. Today’s Hawaiian word is hula, which literally translates as the art of hula, to dance hula or to dance. As hula people, we know that hula is more than just dancing. It is a deeply spiritual experience that requires discipline, perseverance and commitment. Hula is a way of life. As hula dancers we eat, sleep and breathe hula. When we hear mele (song or dance) our hands automatically begin to choreograph motions of interpretation and our feet naturally begin to move to and fro. If it’s a mele we are familiar with, without hesitation we start to dance and sing it. Hula is not merely a performance, but instead it is an interpretation of a culture. Within the hula we find protocol, customs, traditions, legends, philosophy, spirituality, language all wrapped up into this art form. Kalākaua once said, “the hula is the language of the heart and therefore the heart beat of the Hawaiian people”. How grateful we are that this ali'i saw the value of the hula and brought it back to the forefront of our culture during his reign. Tonight and tomorrow night, we’ll get our fill of hula as the 2009 Keiki Hula Competition is televised on KITV 4. Join me as we watch our keiki continue to perpetuate the art of hula. Kuhi nō ka lima, hele nō ka maka. Where the hands go, the eyes follow. Aloha nō, a hui hou. CLICK HERE to listen to and download the Morning Mana'o Podcast.

E ho'i i ke kula, return to school!

Aloha kakahiaka e ka lehulehu. Mākaukau e ho'i i ke kula? Are the keiki ready to go back to school? Today’s morning mana'o is just for you. All our Maui keiki who will ho'i i ke kula today need to learn this word – noke. Noke means to persevere, persist, continue. Noke i ka hana, continue to do your work. The opposite of noke would be hā'awi pio, to give up or surrender. We have choices in our lives. When times get tough and we are faced with challenges, we can noke i ka hana or hā'awi pio, persevere or give up. When we think of our ancestors we know that they never gave up. They chose to persist and continue until the task was completed. Now, as Hawaiian today, as keiki o ka 'āina, children of this land, we can apply their examples into our own lives. Our culture is a vibrant, living culture and we live the values of our küpuna. No laila e nā haumāna, nā keiki, nā po'e a pau, e noke mau i ka hana kūpono, continue to do good unceasingly. Study hard, do your homework, listen to your teachers and be bring the vision of Kamehameha III, Kauikeaouli to life as he strived to establish He Aupuni Ho'ona'auao, an enlightened kingdom. I lā mua o ke kula maika'i, have a great first day back. Aloha nō, a hui hou! CLICK HERE to listen to and download the Morning Mana'o Podcast.

Ku Ha'aheo

Welina me ke aloha iā kākou a pau! In Hawaiian we say, ”Kū ha'aheo” which means to stand tall or stand proud. Now sometimes we get a little hung up on the word ha'aheo or proud. We are taught not to be prideful and that pride is even a sin, but I think that there needs to be balance between ha'aheo and ha'aha'a. We can Kū ha'aheo, stand tall and be proud of our accomplishments without being haughty or puffed up. It is important for us to reflect on the good things we have done and continue to do in our lives. The goals we have met and the achievements we have worked hard to reach should be celebrated. We can Kū ha'aheo as a people when we learn about the feats of our kūpuna, our ancestors, their intelligence and ingenuity. We Kū ha'aheo when know and are familiar with our ancestors who came before us and we understand that we still have a kuleana to honor them and their names. Yes, ha'aha'a, humility is extremely important, but ha'aha'a and ha'aheo work together to create balance in each of us. No laila, e Kū ha'haeo kākou, may we all take time to celebrate and acknowledge our accomplishments and the accomplishments of others. Aloha nō, a hui hou. CLICK HERE to listen to and download the Morning Mana'o Podcast.

Mauna Kahalawai

Aloha mai e nā hoa pepeiao! Today’s Morning Mana'o takes us to a wahi pana, a storied place here on Maui. We travel ma uka to the mountain range known traditionally as Mauna Kahālāwai, The West Maui Mountains. The older of Maui’s two volcanoes, Mauna Kahālāwai is the backdrop of the district known as Nā Wai 'Ehā, the four famous waters of Maui. It is a composition of dark basalts formed from pähoehoe lava eruptions and it stretches 18 miles long and 15 miles wide. Kahālāwai dates back some 1.3 million years. Literally, Kahālāwai translates as “the meeting of the waters”. There are many peaks and ridges within Kahālāwai, but, its highest peak, Pu'u Kukui stands 5,788 ft. and is located in the upper regions of the mountain on the Western end. It literally means, hill of light or enlightenment and is used in poetry as a metaphor symbolizing a beacon of light illuminating Kahālāwai. As we know, Pu'u Kukui is the second wettest spot in the world, second only to Mount Wai'ale'ale on the island of Kaua'i. From Kahālāwai comes Ka Wai Ola, the life giving waters of Kāne, the source of water that supports Central, South and West Maui. Mauna Kahālāwai is a glorious and beautiful mountain range with diverse topography ranging from lush, green landscapes to drier, red toned terrain, but it is not only esthetically pleasing, it is kūpuna, considered to be an ancestor of our race. Stop for a moment and take some time today to enjoy the splendor of Mauna Kahālāwai. Aloha nō, a hui hou. CLICK HERE to download and listen to the Morning Mana'o Podcast.

Wailuku, i ka malu he kuawa. Wailuku, in the shelter of the valley.

Aloha mai e nā hoa aloha o ka polokolamu ʻo Morning Manaʻo. Good morning friends of Morning Manaʻo. This morningʻs ʻōlelo noʻeau takes us to the ahupuaʻa of Wailuku in the region of Nā Wai ʻEhā. Wailuku i ka malu he kuawa. Wailuku in the shelter of the valley. Wailuku, Maui reposes in the shelter of the clouds and valley. If you are kamaʻāina, familiar with Wailuku, you will agree that ʻĪao is a central component of this place. The valley of ʻĪao shelters the vast lands of Wailuku and is known for the many clouds that gather on the peaks of the valley ridges and converge, bringing with it the Ka wai a Kāne, the life giving waters of Kāne. In the morning, if you are up early enough, you can catch a glimpse of the valley fully exposed, ahuwale, glittering in the morning sunlight, but by the afternoon the uhiwai, the misty clouds begin to cover its precipices, sheltering the sacred valley walls and the broad expanse of Wailuku. Take some time this weekend to gaze at the immeasurable beauty of Wailuku and the valley of ʻĪao. Aloha nō, a hui hou. CLICK HERE to listen to and download the Morning Manaʻo Podcast.

Perseverance

Welina me ke aloha e nā hoa pepeiao! He momi kēia. Nā keiki uneune māmane o Kula. The lads of Kula, Maui who tug and pull the māmane up by the roots. This ʻōlelo noʻeau is an expression of admiration for the people of Kula who accomplished whatever they set out to do. Imagine pulling up a māmane tree, digging down into the earth to the deep roots and then tugging and pulling until the entire tree was uprooted. This takes effort, even greater effort than just cutting the tree down. It required perseverance and commitment to finishing the task, no matter how hard it got. When we think of the people of Kula we think of kua ʻāina, the term used for those who worked the land, those who worked hard in the hot sun and at times the pouring rain. Kua means back and ʻāina means land, so literally this term means back to the land and paints a picture of makaʻāinana bending over at the back and working tirelessly. The people of Kula were this way. Hard workers, diligent in their efforts and focused on accomplishing the tasks set before them. It is a great reminder to us today that we, too, must be firm and steadfast and learn to persevere. We must tug, pull and press forward with our eye on the prize, whatever that prize may be. So many times in today`s world we seem to give up too easily. May we all be like Nā keiki uneune māmane o Kula, the lads of Kula who exemplified the qualities of perseverance and longsuffering, for the reward that lies ahead is great. Aloha nō, a hui hou. CLICK HERE to listen to and download the Morning Manaʻo Podcast.