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.