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.