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.