Ma ka hana ka 'ike

Aloha kakahiaka Morning Mana'o listeners! As we continue our journey in na'auao and ways we become enlightened and wise, today I share with you another 'ōlelo no'eau that helps us understand how we learn best as Hawaiians. Ma ka hana ka 'ike, there is knowledge to be gained through work. The mana'o (idea) behind this 'ōlelo no'eau is that we truly learn by doing. We can sit in a classroom and talk about planting kalo (taro), but when we get into the lo'i kalo (taro patch), feel the mud between our toes and put the huli (starter taro plants) into the ground with our own hands, it is then and only then that we learn the art of planting taro. When we do the work our ancestors did, pass the same pōhaku (stones) from hand to hand as we reconstruct an ancient fishpond, we begin to really understand the magnitude of our ancestors intellect and ingenuity. So, in the first phasse of learning we ho'olohe pono (listen carefully) and nānā (observe/watch). Then, we ho'opili, imitate and mimic through hands on work. This wonderful pearl of wisdom left for us by our kūpuna applies to us as we learn to speak Hawaiian as well. We can talk about language all day, but when we listen, observe, mimic and try to speak and write, this is when we really learn. This is why I am so ha'aheo (proud) of each of you for jumping on board in this journey. Language acquisition can be intimidating and frustrating, but you have overcome the biggest hurdle by having the courage to ho'ā'o, to try! E ho'omau kākou, may we continue the excellent work we have started together!

Aloha nō, a hui hou!

Na Wai Ho'i Ka 'Ole O Ke Akamai?

Aloha mai e ko Maui! Kauikeaouli established "He Aupuni Ho'ona'auao, A Kingdom of Learning". His brother, 'Iolani Liholiho, Kamehameha II, who reigned before him also valued education. When Liholiho traveled abroad to Europe he received compliments from other monarchs who praised his wisdom. He responded to this praise by saying, "Na wai ho'i ka 'ole o ke akamai, he alahele i ma'a i ka hele 'ia e o'u mau makua." "Who would not be wise on a path walked upon by my parents and ancestors?" In his response he did two things. First, he acknowledged his kūpuna, his ancestors and their intelligence. He understood that because his ancestors were smart, innovative, wise and they had taught these things to him, he, too had inhereted those same qualities. His kūpuna valued intelligence and instilled in him a love of learning. Although he was being praised he returned that praise and glory to the source, his kūpuna. Second, he showed his confidence in his upbringing. He considered himself no different than any of the other monarchs of the world. He saw himself as their equal. We learn valuable lessons from Liholiho. As parents and adult role models, we can instill in our keiki and the keiki we have contact with, this same kind of confidence. We can help them value education and become confident, contributing members of our community. So just how we do this? Tune in tomorrow and we'll discover some ways together.

He Aupuni Ho'ona'auao, A Kindgom of Learning

E nā hoa o ke kakahiaka, aloha mai! He Aupuni Ho'ona'auao, A Kingdom of Learning was the philosophy of Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III. He declared, "E nā ali'i a me nā kānaka, e ho'olohe mai! E lilo i ko'u aupuni i Aupuni Ho'ona'auao. Chiefs and people, give ear to my remarks! My kingdom shall be a kingdom of learning." Kauikeaouli knew that education was vital in preparing his people for the changes taking place in Hawai'i during his reign. As such, he encouraged the early missionaries to start schools in Hawai'i, teaching students to read and write. The first schools were simple hale pili (grass houses) with mats on the floor to sit on. By 1830 there were schools established on every island. With the growing number of Hawaiians becoming students there arose a need for more teachers. In 1831 Lahainaluna School was opened and became a school to train Hawaiian men to become teachers. Many of the graduates of Lahainaluna became prominent citizens and scholars of their time. Both Samuel Mānaiakalani Kamakau and David Malo were schooled at Lahainaluna. Their literary works are highly regarded and continue to be used today. In 1839 Kauikeaouli opened the Chief's Children's School in Honolulu to prepare future rulers of Hawai'i, which later became known as the Royal School. Among its students were Alexander Liholiho, Lot Kapuāiwa, William Lunalilo, David Kalākaua, Lydia Lili'uokalani and Bernice Pauahi. Education became more and more important and soon the government took over the public schools. The constitution of 1840 provided free public education and required all children to attend. At the end of Kauikeaouli's rule there were 423 schools in Hawai'i with over 12,000 students enrolled. Most of the schools used Hawaiian language as the medium of instruction. Hawai'i became one of the most literate countries in the world. Indeed, Kauikeaouli has established "He Aupuni Ho'ona'auao", a kingdom of learning.

Ua Ao Hawai'i, Ke 'Olino Nei

He leo aloha iā 'oukou e ka lehulehu! Like many of you I am already thinking about and preparing for BACK TO SCHOOL! Every year my children and I talk about school and set goals together for the year. I try to stress to them the importance of education. So, this week, I thought we could look at na'auao, education, wisdom, enlightenment through the eyes of our kūpuna and along the way, catch of glimpse of how our ancestors valued education. We begin with an 'ōlelo no'eau, Ua ao Hawai'i, ke 'olino nei - Hawai'i is in the brightness of day, it shines, brilliant. Hawai'i is in an era of education. Let's look a little closer at the mana'o of this 'ōlelo no'eau. Hawai'i is descrided as bright, shiny and brilliant. It is likened to the brightness of day. The word for day in Hawaiian is ao, but it also means light and light represents intelligence and wisdom. Hawai'i gains these characteristics of light, brightness and brilliance because of the education and intellect of our people. When we take the time to learn our history we come to realize just how intelligent our ancestors are and that intelligence is inherently ours. Tomorrow we'll learn more about Kauikeaouli and his bold declaration "E lilo ko'u aupuni i Aupuni Ho'ona'auao - My kingdom shall be a Kingdom of Learning." Tune in tomorrow and following along through the week as we discover the brightness and brilliance within each of us.

Aloha nō, a hui hou!

He 'olino leo ka ke aloha . . .

Aloha mai kākou! One of the Hawaiian values we try to emulate in our lives is 'olu'olu, which means gentle, agreeable, comfortable and pleasant. Now in reality it isn't always easy to be pleasant and agreeable. We find ourselves in all kinds of situations each day that challenge our ability to remain pleasant and joyful. Here's an 'ōlelo no'eau that can help us. He 'ōlino leo kā ke aloha. Joy is in the voice of love. Love speaks in gentle and joyous ways, not harshness or gruffness. This is a wonderful reminder to us all of the power of our words and the impact even the tone of our voice can have. Now I have a loud, powerful voice, so speaking in a gentle way can be a challenge for me, but as I remind myself of this 'ōlelo no'eau I have the opportunity to pause and decide how I will react, how I will speak and what I will say. This applies to us in our 'ohana, with our elders, our children, our siblings and our spouses. It applies to us at work, with our colleagues, supervisors, all those we interact with in our work lives. Sometimes we find ourselves speaking more kindly to a perfect stranger than those who we love and who mean the most to us. So, today, will you join me in choosing to speak with gentleness, joyfully, with love? Whatever situation you find yourself in, hit the "pause" button and choose to emulate this 'ōlelo no'eau - He 'ōlino leo kā ke aloha.

Aloha nō, a hui hou!

Kauwela . . . Summer!

Ke Welina Aloha iā kākou a pau! Greetings of love to you all! Kauwela is the Hawaiian word for summer. When we break down the word we have kau, meaning period of time or season and wela, which means HOT! So literally we are saying the HOT season! Quite appropriate for this time of year. When you look a little closer into our culture we also find that we are currently in the Hawaiian lunar month known as Hinaia'ele'ele. The kumulipo tells us, 'O Ka'aona ke kāne, 'o Malanaikū ka wahine, hānau kā lāua, 'o Hinaia'ele'ele. Ka'aona is the male, Malanaikū is the female, to them is born Hinaia'ele'ele. So what happened traditionally during this month? Mo'olelo tells us that the ocean is vibrant during this time and food is plentiful. Our ancestors would salt and dry food to build a supply for the coming winter months. They spent much time ma kahakai, at the beach, along the shore and in the ocean. It is also said to be a good time to build a house, canoe or surfboard. In one mo'olelo of Hinaia'ele'ele we learn that a child born during this month will be a boaster and exaggerator. Hmmmm . . . can you think of anyone born this month that seems to naturally have these traits? Now, as you enjoy Kauwela, summer and the Hawaiian lunar month of Hinaia'ele'ele, think about the things our ancestors did and enjoy this rich season.

Aloha nō, a hui hou!

Morning Mana'o is BACK!

After a long hiatus I"m happy to say that Morning Mana'o is back featuring daily inspirational blogs on Hawaiian language, values and culture. We've got a new look for the blog and lots of new mana'o to share with you. Share it with your friends. Look for us on Facebook real soon, too!

ke aloha nō, ke Akua pū,
Luana

He hale ke kino no ka manawa.

He hale ke kino no ka manawa. The body is a house for the thoughts. Mālama kino, taking care of bodies is important so that our hale is strong and we are ready to share our thoughts with those who visit. When we look a little closer at this 'ōlelo no'eau we notice the word manawa. It means, feelings, affections, seat of emotions. It also is the word for the fontanel, or soft spot on the top of the head of infants and top of the head for adults. Our manawa is extremely important. It is one of three piko each of us has. This piko connects us to the past, to our kūpuna. Those who came before us and continue to guide and direct us. From here we receive inspiration and direction, even knowledge. What houses this knowledge, this inspiration? Our kino, our bodies. Taking care of our bodies helps us better receive this knowledge and inspiration and keep us connected to those who came before us. Now, thinking about the manawa, this is why we never slap someone on the head. Many of us have heard people say "Eh, you like I slap your head?" Many of us have been guilty of saying it ourselves. But when we look at our cultural traditions, the po'o or head is sacred, for this is where our manawa is. If we slap someone on the head we not only slap them, we slap all their kūpuna who came before them. Auē, scary thought! So remember, He hale ke kino no ka manawa, our bodies house our thoughts, feelings, our knowledge. No laila, e mālama kino. Take care of ourselves.

Aloha nō, a hui hou!
Luana

Pu'upu'u lei, pali i ka 'a'i.

Pu'upu'u lei, pali i ka 'ā'ī. Imperfection (in the form of a lei), (stands majestic like a) cliff on the neck. There is beauty in imperfection and effort is appreciated. Let us make our mistakes and learn from them. What a wonderful reminder this 'ōlelo no'eau is to each of us. Let's first look at its literal meaning. In our culture we strive for perfection in the art of lei making. The final product is a testament to our craftsmenship. I know some Kumu, haumāna and even parents of hula students who will take a part their lei several times trying to make as perfect as possible. Yes, my husband is one of those hula daddys. He'll make a lei, take it apart, make it again and when almost pau, he takes a part again. A constant striving for perfection. This is part of who we are and it reflects the idea of Kūlia I Ka Nu'u, Striving for the summit. This 'ōlelo no'eau, however, reminds us that a few flaws and imperfections add character to our lei. As we strive for perfection there are many lessons we learn along the way. It is through our mistakes that we gain the greatest knowledge and experience. And so it is with life! We are not always going to be perfect. Our flaws and our imperfections help us to grow. We learn from our mistakes and we are better able to help others who cross our path. Sometimes it's hard to watch our loved ones, especially our keiki, make those mistakes, but ultimately this is how they learn, this how we learned. Indeed, pu'upu'u lei, pali ka 'ā'ī.

Aloha nō, a hui hou!
Luana

'A'ohe hua o ka mai'a i ka la ho'okahi

'A'ohe hua o ka mai'a i ka lā ho'okahi. Bananas do not fruit in a single day. A retort to an impatient person. I've been thinking alot about ahonui, patience. We've learned that ahonui literally means long breath and I'm sure we can agree that when our patience is being tried we tend to take long, deep breaths. I like this 'ōlelo no'eau because it paints a picture for us. We can imagine the mai'a, bananas growing. Indeed, mai'a does not fruit in one day. Instead, growth is a process. When we plant the mai'a tree we first have faith, a sincere belief that it will grow. We tend to it, we make sure it is nourished properly and we watch for the fruit to spring forth. Even when the fruit is visually seen, it takes time before it rippens and is ready for our eating pleasure. And so it is with life . . . Things don't happen over night. We have hopes and dreams, we set goals and we believe that it will happen. We set our course and we embark on our journey. Sometimes it takes longer than we expected. Sometimes there are detours on our path. And at times the destination can even change along the way. It is important for us to remember ahonui, patience and that we allow ourselves to learn life's lessons as we move along on our journey. The words of our kūpuna serve as a reminder to us and perhaps to those around us who may need a gentle reminder to be patient as the mai'a grows, blossoms and fruits.

Aloha nō, a hui hou!
~Luana

Lawelawe malie ka Wai'opua . . .

Lawelawe mālie ka Wai'ōpua. The Wai'ōpua breeze handles gently. Said of one whose ways are gentle and easy going or of one who is very careful in handling anything. This ōlelo no'eau came at the perfect time for me. It is such an important reminder to be more patient, gentle, easy going and careful. Sometimes when we have a decision to make we feel rushed, pressured to make a decision. At times, that pressure leads to the wrong decision or a careless decision. We are faced with decisions daily. Some decisions are big ones. What we decide to do or say will have a lasting impact on our life and even the lives of others. This proverb reminds us to be like the Wai'ōpua breeze. Be gentle, think things through, take the time you need before making a decision. Pule, ponder, even ask for advice if needed. Now this can also apply to how we choose to react in various situations. I was reading something by Stephen Covey the other day called the 90/10 rule. This rule tells us that we have absolutely no control over 10% of what happens to us. We can't control other people's actions. We can't control the red lights as we're rushing to work. We can't control the fact that the tire went flat on the car, but we can control how we react in each of these situations. Will be like the Wai'ōpua wind, gentle and careful or will we pahū, explode like the Kaua'ula wind of Lāhaina. I personally need to work on being like the Wai'ōpua, more gentle, patient, thoughtfull in my reactions and my words. That's may pahuhopu, my goal this week. How lucky we have the wisdom of our kūpuna to help us teach us and help us grow.

Aloha nō, a hui hou . . .
Luana

Aloha kakahiaka e nā makamaka! The word makamaka translates as intimate friend with whom one is on terms of receiving and giving freely, pal or buddy. We all have good friends in our lives. Some stick around for a long time and some are with you just for a season. Some come and go in and out of our lives yet they leave lasting impressions on our hearts. I am blessed to have a few makamaka, good friends who are like family to me. Although we are not related by blood, there is a strong connection and bond. I call them my sisters, because that is truly what they are to me. They are always there for me just when I need them. We don’t have to talk or see each other everyday, but as soon as we are together it’s as if no time has passed. We simply pick up where we left off. We’ve shared laughter, happiness and joy and yes, we have shared tears, pain and anguish. Makamaka stand up for you, even when you're not in the room and they hold you up when you no longer can stand. What would I do without these makamaka in my life? So, to all my makamaka, my dear friends, my sisters, my pals, today’s morning mana'o is dedicated to each of you with all my love and aloha! Reach out to your makamaka today and tell them how much you appreciate them and love them.

Aloha nō, a hui hou.

He mau iwi mama ko ke kanaka o ke ali'i.

He mau iwi māmā ko ke kanaka o ke ali'i. The servant of a chief has bones that are light of weight. He who serves the chief must be active and alert. Indeed, this saying was true for our kūpuna. In ancient times the lawelawe ali'i, those serving the ali'i, those closest to him had to be maka'ala, alert, attentive and aware at all times. The ali'i were targets of their enemies. At times they were under seige. Their servants had to be māmā, light on their feet, mākaukau, ready to act and protect the ali'i. They were proactive, making sure safeguards were in place to ensure safety of the ali'i and his company. We can apply this 'ōlelo no'eau to our own lives. Let's think about our families. The family unit today is under attack. Families are struggling. We must be like the servants of our ali'i of old - māmā, quick, fast, swift. We must protect our 'ohana, our children, our kūpuna. We must maka'ala, be aware, alert and attentive to their needs and make sure they are safe. 'Ohana is our greatest gift in life and we need to do everthing in our power to safeguard them and prepare them. Afterall, the greatest work we will ever do will be in the walls of our own home. No earthly accomplishments will compensate for failure in our homes.

Aloha nō, a hui hou!
Luana

He manu ke aloha, 'a'ohe lala kau 'ole.

He manu ke aloha, 'a'ohe lālā kau 'ole. Love is like a bird, there is no branch that it does not perch upon. Love is an emotion shared by all. Like a bird perching from one branch to another, love touches us all. We all feel love, fall in love, give love, receive love. It is one thing we all have in common. Some of us love easily. For others it takes a while. Some people are easy to love and others . . well, we grow to love them. Love has no age limits and is not discriminatory. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love has no envy or conceit. Love is universal. They saying, "All you need is love" is true. When our intentions come from a place of love, it manifests in our thoughts and actions. We love our family, our friends. We love our children, our spouses. As parents there is nothing like the love we feel the first time we hold our children in our arms. As couples, the love we feel makes life worth living. Do you remember you first love? Well, I am lucky enough to be married to my first love. Love grows, love knows no bounds. So like the manu that lele from branch to branch, live a life filled with love and let that love touch those around you, permeating their lives.

Aloha nō, a hui hou!
Luana

'Ie'ie and Koa

Aloha mai kākou e ka lehulehu! I uka kākou. This morning we head to the uplands, to the traditional Hawaiian forest. One of the things we would see in ancient times would be magnificent, large koa trees growing i uka in the dryland forest area. With a light gray bark and crescent shaped leaves, many of these trees stood over 100 feet tall with a diameter of over 10 feet. Koa translates as warrior, brave, bold and fearless. Often you would find the native 'ie'ie vine growing around the koa tree, wrapping itself around the koa from the base upward. The 'ie'ie is a crawling vine that would cling to the koa tree. Let's consider the pilina or relationship between the koa and the 'ie'ie. The koa stands mighty and tall while the 'ie'ie is much more delicate and fragile, yet one compliments the other. So it is in our pilina with each other. Good relationships have this kind of balance. When one person is weak, the other is strong. When one needs protection, the other provides a safe place. When one person is growing and learning the other provides the stable foundation allowing the growth to take place. At times we may need to be the koa, strong, tall, steadfast and immovable. In our vulnerable times we may be like the 'ie'ie, creeping and crawling along clinging to those around us as we make our way. This is what makes pilina, relationships in our lives so important, so essential as we find our way through this journey called life.

Aloha nō, a hui hou!
Luana

Ho'ihi . . . Respect

Aloha kakahiaka e nā hoa pepeiao!

One of the protocols we observe in our culture is hō'ihi, respect, especially for our elders. When we look a little deeper we realize that the word hō'ihi comes from the root word, 'ihi, which means sacred, holy, majestic, dignified; treated with reverence. In pule Ke Akua is often referred to as ka 'ihi'ihi. Hō'ihi is an important Hawaiian value. It is exemplified in our interactions with each other. We teach our keiki to hō'ihi their elders, to be respectful of adults, teachers and leaders in our community. We teach them to show hō'ihi for each other in school, on the playground, at home. We make sure they understand the importance of showing hō'ihi to their kūpuna. The worst thing that we could see is a child disrespecting a kūpuna. Even as adults we understand that kūpuna are treated with hō'ihi and are revered. We never correct a kūpuna, even if we think we know better. When a kūpuna is in the room we are on our best behavior and we are aware of his or her needs. Why? Because they have earned that respect. When we think about our world today hō'ihi is often missing. Sometimes it seems that we have forgotten the importance of being polite, respectful and thoughtful. So, today, our challenge is to be more mindful of our behaviors and to show more respect for each other and most importantly kūpuna.

Aloha nō, a hui hou!
Luana

Hau'oli la hanau e Ka'ahumanu

Aloha kakahiaka e ko Maui! Today, March 17th marks the birthday of Queen Ka'ahumanu. She was a wonderful example of a Hawaiian woman who embraced Christianity and yet was able to hold fast to her culture and traditions. Born at Ka'uiki on the shores of Ponahakeone, Ka'ahumanu was the daughter of Maui chiefess Nāmāhana and her husband, high chief and counselor to Kamehameha, Ke'eaumoku from the island of Hawai'i. With her father's role in Kamehameha's court, Ka'ahumanu spent much of her time on Hawai'i island in the presence of Kamehameha and his most trusted advisors. At the age of 17 she married Kamehameha and although he had many wives, she was considered his favorite wife. Upon the death of Kamehameha, Ka'ahumanu became Kuhina Nui, Prime Minister of Hawai'i and quickly became one of the most powerful Hawaiian woman. She used her intelligence and experience to change Hawaiian laws and together with Keōpūolani and Liholiho, broke the 'ai kapu, by eating together. On December 5th, 1925 Ka'ahumanu was baptized at Kawaiaha'o church. With her knowledge of Christianity she created and presented the first code of law, patterned after the Ten Commandments. She will forever be remembered for her strength, courage and mana as a Hawaiian woman. Hau'oli Lā Hānau e Ka'ahumanu.

Aloha nō, a hui hou . . .
Luana

'Ai ku, 'ai hele

Welina me me ke aloha! Today's Morning Mana'o is an 'ōlelo no'eau, 'ai kū, 'ai hele - eat standing, eat walking. This proverb is said of anything done without ceremony, or of anything unrestrained by kapu. Let's look back in time to find the origin of this wise saying. In 1819, after the death of Kamehameha Queen Ka'ahumanu, Keōpūlani and Liholiho broke the kapu system by eating together. In Hawaiian religion the 'ai kapu forbade men and women from eating together. This act of defiance became known as the 'ai noa, free eating and set into motion the eventual fall of Hawaiian religion. The saying, 'Ai kū, 'ai hele comes from this historical event. Traditionally eating was governed by kapu. To eat standing, eat walking would be a violation of the kapu and as such when we poetically use this phrase we are commenting on someone's behavior that seems unrestrained by rules or kapu. Ceremony and protocol is an extremely important part of Hawaiian culture. To not be governed by kapu was a foreign concept for our ancestors. Protocol creates a sense of respect and reverence when and where appropriate. Although the ancient system of kapu was rigid and it's consequences severe, it provided a code of conduct and governance that kept society functioning properly. Today, we find less restriction in society and the morals and values once important seem to becoming less and less important and the idea of 'ai kū, 'ai hele can apply in many ways. Let us not forget that kapu and protocol is good. It is important for our keiki to understand these traditions. Tune in tomorrow a swe explore these kapu and protocols in more depth.

aloha nō, a hui hou,
Luana

I mohala no ka lehua i ke ke'eke'ehi 'ia e ka ua.

Aloha kakahiaka! I mohala nō ka lehua i ke ke'eke'ehi 'ia e ka ua. The lehua blossom unfolds when the rain falls gently upon it. People respond better to kind, gentle words than to scolding. I really love this ōlelo no'eau. It is such a good reminder. I will be the first to admit that when someone is negative or rude towards me in word or action, my first inclination is to strike back and set them straight. To "tell them off" so to speak. This proverb reminds me that that may not be the best response. Negativity creates and attracts negativity. When we choose to respond with kind words and to be gentle, the outcome is usually positive. I've been experimenting on this concept for the past couple of days. Like most parents, I struggle to maintain peace and harmony in my home at times. I just can't tolerate disrespect. So my natural reaction is to correct and give consequences to change the negative behavior, but instead, I've chosen to try something different and to be only positive. I selected 4 phrases - I love you, I'm sorry, I forgive you and Thank you. Ok, I didn't come up with us all by myself. The author of "The Law of Attraction", Joe Vitale shared a story about a man here in Hawai'i trained in ho'oponopono who cured an entire psych ward of criminally insane inmates using these 4 phrases. I figured, if it can work in a dangerous psychiatric ward, it can work in my home. This beautiful 'ōlelo no'eau will help me on my journey to remember that the lehua truly blossoms forth when gentle rain falls upon it. I believe my children will blossom like the lehua as I choose to speak gentle, positive words to them. You can try, too!

Aloha nō, a hui hou!
Luana

E hamau o makani mai 'auane'i . . .

Welina me ke aloha! He momi kēia! E hāmau o makani mai auane'i. Hush, lest the wind arise. Hold your silence or trouble will come. When the people went to gather pearl oysters at Pu'uloa, they did so in silence, for they believed that if they spoke, a gust of wind would ripple the water and the oysters would vanish. Pu'uloa is the traditional name of the area known today as Pearl Harbor. This 'ōlelo no'eau has a few meanings. First, it reminds me of another saying, He pepeiao ko ka i'a. The fish have ears. Hawaiian tradition teaches us that whenever we prepared to gather anything from ma kai, from the ocean, we would do so silently. As a matter of fact, the silence began before we even reached ma kai. We didn't say out loud, "Eh, we going fishing", instead, we would say that we're going "holoholo". If you talked too much about going and gathering, the fish would hear us and there would be no catch. Now i'a translates as fish, however it can mean any delicasy of the sea. On another level we can relate this 'ōlelo no'eau to ourselves. Sometimes it is better to just be silent. The gust of wind can be compared to an argument or tempers flaring. When we choose to be silent we prevent that gust of wind from whirling through. Not an easy task at times, but it works. When we are silent and do not allow ourselves to become engulfed in the gusty wind we show self restraint, self control, humility and maturity. Oh, how I love these gentle reminders our kūpuna have left for us.

Aloha nō, a hui hou!
Luana

He nahä ipu auane‘i o pa‘a i ka hupau humu.

Aloha mai e nā hoa makamaka! He nahā ipu auanae'i o pa'a i ka hupau humu. A broken gourd can be mended by drawing together and sewing, but it is hard to repair a family rift. A broken relationship is not as easily mended as a broken ipu or gourd. This 'ōlelo no'eau reminds us of the importance of familial connections. Our ties to 'ohana are strong. When we have rifts in our families, when we don't get along or make an effort to get along, these precious relationships become difficult to mend. The longer we let time go by, the harder it is. This proverb really is a reminder to mālama our relationships, hold them close to us and be good to each other. When we make mistakes, e kala aku a e kala mai, forgive and be forgiven. Although a broken relationship may not be as easily mended as a broken ipu, there is hope. Through love, forgiveness and acceptance once broken relationships can be mended, healing can take place and we can move forward with greater joy and happiness. Over the past few weeks I have seen this happen. I have witnessed the miracle of forgiveness, the healing forgiveness brings and the mending of relationships. Today, my challenge to each of each of us to think about the relationships in our own lives that may need to be mended. Are there those whom we need to forgive? Do we ourselves need to seek forgiveness? Like the glue that can mend a broken ipu, love and forgiveness can heal our relationships. No wait, do it today! I promise you that you will find joy!

aloha nō, a hui hou,
Luana

'A'ohe hana nui ke alu 'ia.

Aloha mai kākou e nā hoa pepeiao! Greetings to you Morning Mana'o listeners! Today's Morning Mana'o is an 'ōlelo no'eau, 'A'ohe hana nui ke alu 'ia. No task is too big when shared by all. This 'ōlelo no'eau can apply to us in so many ways. It can apply at work, in sports, in hālau hula, even in our homes. Yesterday we were discussing the importance of sharing the work at home. If you're a parent you know that it can be challenging trying to engage children in work. It's easy for them to make the mess, but cleaning and tidying up the hale can be a tremendous task that comes with whining, questioning, even arguing. I thought of this 'ōlelo no'eau as we were having our discussion. When one person if left with the kuleana it can be overwhelming, but even daunting tasks become easy when shared by all. It reminds us of the importance of team work and the idea of laulima, which translates as cooperation, but literally means "many hands". Yes, many hands working together in harmony and unity makes any task, big or small, so much easier. So remember, 'a'ohe hana nui ke 'alu 'ia, no task is too big when shared by all.

aloha nō, a hui hou . . .
Luana

I kani ko ‘aka i ka le‘ale‘a; i pu‘u ko nuku i ka huhū; i le‘a ka nohona i ka mā‘ona.

Aloha kakahiaka e ko Maui! Today's 'ōlelo no'eau has become one of my favorites. I kani ko 'aka i ka le'ale'a; i pu'u ko nuku i ka huhū i le'a ka nohona i ka mā'ona. One laughs when joyous, sulks when angry; is at peace with all when the stomach is satisfied. So true! Our emotions are revealed through our expressions. When someone is happy and joyful it radiates in their countenance. They laugh, they smile and their joy becomes contagious. It's hard to be in a room with someone who is joyous and not smile, too. On the other extreme, when someone is angry their anger manifests in their expressions, attitude and even their actions. Think of a young child, typically joyful and happy, but when their angry, you sure know it. The part I like the best of this 'ōlelo no'eau, though, tells us that one is at peace with all when the stomach is full, mā'ona ka 'ōpū. It's not just about the food. When we think about eating much of our eating occurs with other people. Yes, our stomachs become full and that makes most of us very happy, but it's the pilina, the relationships we create and build upon that seems to satisty the soul. So, you see, we don't just eat because we love food, we eat because we love each other as well.

Aloha nō, a hui hou!
Luana

He pua laha 'ole

Ke welina aloha iā kākou a pau e ka lehulehu! Today's Morning Mana'o features yet another 'ōlelo no'eau, He pua laha 'ole, which translates as, a flower not common. It is used as an expression of one who is as choice and highly prized as a very rare blossom. This mana'o is used frequently in song and chant. Let's break it down and look at its meaning closer. Pua, as we know is the word for flower, but in poetry it can be a reference to a child, loved one, lover or offspring. Laha translates as extended, spread out, published, distributed, common. 'Ole negates the word before it, so laha 'ole means uncommon or rare. Palani Vaughn uses this phrase in the beautiful mele he wrote entitled, He Pua Wehiwa, which speaks of the precious lehua blossom. He describes this pua in different ways using different adjectives in Hawaiian - he pua lei, a flower greatly desired, he pua laha 'ole, a rare flower, he pua wehiwa, a choice flower, he pua mae 'ole, a flower that never fades. This phrase could be used to describe a special person, rare and hard to come by. You could use it to express your love for your spouse, your love. Yet it could also be an expression of love for a child. So many ways to use 4 little Hawaiian words. Take a moment today to think about the pua laha 'ole in your life and as you recall them, let them know just how special they are.

Aloha nō, a hui hou!
Luana

The wisdom of our kupuna . . . He weke, he i'a pahulu.

Aloha kakahiaka e ko Maui! Yesterday I overheard my son, Kamalei and my nephew, Lamaku talking about the weke fish. Kamalei was telling Lama that if you eat weke you get nightmares. I was interested in what he was saying, so I asked him who had told him that. He said that my Papa, his great grandfather, Papa Medeiros had told him this. He said, "Papa told me if you eat weke you get bad dreams, especially the head." Later that night I was looking through the 'ōlelo no'eau book and lo and behold, I found this 'ōlelo no'eau, "He weke, he i'a pahulu. It is a weke, the fish that produces nightmares." According to tradition, the head of the weke fish contains something that produces nightmares. It is said that the nearer to Lāna'i the fish is caught, the worse the effects are. Pahulu was the chief of the ghosts that occupied Lāna'i. Ka'ululā'au, the son of Kaka'alaneo was banished to Lāna'i because of his mischeviousness. While there he used his trickery to rid the island of these ghosts and in the mo'olelo, the spirit of Pahulu fled to the sea and entered a weke fish. Since that time, nightmares are referred to as Pahulu and the weke is known to cause bad dreams. I was amazed to find that although Papa didn't explain the whole story, this mana'o had been passed on from one generation to the next and although we lost Papa just over a year ago, his words and lesson live on in his grandchildren and great grandchildren. How grateful I am for the wisdom of our kūpuna.

Aloha nō, a hui hou!
Luana

Ka ua pe'e puhala o Hamakuapoko

Aloha mai e nā hoa aloha! Eia kekahi 'ōlelo no'eau. Today's 'ōlelo no'eau is Ka ua pe'e pūhala o Hāmākuapoko, the rain that makes one hide beneath the pūhala trees. From this one 'ōlelo no'eau we learn so much. First, we find a wahi pana, place name - Hāmākuapoko. We have learned that Hāmākuapoko is a moku or large land district on our island Maui. There are two Hāmākua, Hāmākualoa and Hāmākuapoko, long Hāmākua and short Hāmākua. When you look at these two areas on a map Hāmākuapoko is literally more poko, narrow and Hāmākualoa is longer and wider. Second, we learn that our kūpuna were very in tune with the natural environment. They watched the wind and the rain and its characteristics and based on those characteristics they gave them names. Through this 'ōlelo no'eau we learn that the ua, or rain of Hāmākuapoko must have come down hard, causing the people of that place to run and seek shelter under the leaves of the pūhala trees. Ka ua pe'e pūhala. Third, we can infer that this area must have had a significant number of pūhala, shorter hala trees, for it to be mentioned in this ancient proverb. This was the place where shelter was found when one was caught in the sudden rain. As we peel away each layer of this 'ōlelo no'eau we catch a glimpse of the Hawaiian worldview and we begin to see this wahi pana through the eyes of our kūpuna. Mahalo au i kēia 'ike i waiho 'ia na mākou, I am grateful for this knowledge that has been left for us.

Aloha nō, a hui hou . . .
Luana

I ali'i no ke ali'i i ke kanaka.

E nā hoa makamaka, nā kama a Maui, Aloha mai kākou!

Today's Morning Mana'o is an 'ōlelo no'eau - I ali'i nō ke ali'i i ke kanaka. A chief is a chief because of the people who serve him. This 'ōlelo no'eau was said as a reminder to the chief to always consider his people. I like this proverb because it applies to anyone in a leadership role. An alaka'i, a leader, can only lead those who are willing to follow. Good alaka'i, good leaders build trust, foster relationships and genuinely care about the those they lead. Consider the relationship you have with your boss. A boss who cares about his or her workers, shows an interest in them and acknowledges their efforts will have far greater success than a boss who just gives orders and expects results. A leader must lead by example. Her example speaks louder than her words. A good leader exemplifies the qualities he or she expects. A fine example in our history is Kamehameha I. Yes, he was a fierce warrior, but he also showed great leadership skills. Oral tradition tells us that he could be found working along side his people in the taro patches of 'Apuakēhau. King William Lunalilo was known as the people's king. In fact, he chose to be buried amongst his people, at Kawaiaha'o, in downtown Honolulu rather than be interred at Mauna 'Ala, the royal masoleum. Our challenge, today, is to think about the leadership roles we all have as parents, friends, citizens in our community. Are we leading by example? Are we building trust and fostering relationships? This is a good time for us to reflect on our own leadership qualities. Indeed, i ali'i nō ke ali'i i ke kanaka, a chief is only a chief because of his people.

Aloha nō, a hui hou . . .
Luana

Direction in life: 'O ka makapo wale no ka mea e hapapa ma ka pouli

E ka 'ohana o KPOA, aloha mai kākou. You know that old addage, "If you're going no where you're guaranteed to get there", well, our kūpuna had a similar 'ōlelo no'eau, 'O ka makapō wale nō ka mea e hāpapa i ka pōuli, only the blind gropes in the dark. Makapō is the Hawaiian word for blind. Maka, literally meaning eye and pō meaning night or dark. The idea of this 'ōlelo no'eau is that if you have no direction in life, you will get no where. Hence the English mana'o of "If you're going no where you're guaranteed to get there." We all need direction in our lives, especially in this day and age. There are so many opportunities and ways for us to 'auana, get sidetracked an off course. But what are the things that really, truly provide us with guidance and direction? I believe that the course is set at home, with our 'ohana. In our homes we are taught values, morals, right from wrong. We learn what is important and our personal value system is developed from a young age. Our 'ohana sets the foundation for our course in life. The lessons we learn at home direct our path in life. This is what makes 'ohana so important. Home is our first school, our parents, our first teachers. With a strong, solid foundation we do not have to live our lives groping in the dark, but instead, the light instilled in us from our 'ohana keeps us on a steady, sure course that leads to eternal happiness and joy. We never know when our journey will end, so make the best of this life and continue to move forward, in the right direction on that steady, sure course laid for us by our kūpuna.

aloha nō, a hui hou . . .
Luana

Makana vs. Ho'okupu

'Ano'ai me ke aloha e ka lehulehu! One of the questions I get asked frequently is what is the difference between makana and ho'okupu. Let's go to the puke wehewehe 'ōlelo Hawai'i, the Hawaiian language dictionary first to see what it says. Makana is defined as gift or present. It also translates as award, reward, donation or prize. It can gift or to give a gift. Ho'okupu on the other hand literally means to cause growth, sprouting or to sprout. When you think about it, makana is a literal gift, ho'okupu is the thought behind the gift. In my learning, ,most of the time ho'okupu is used when describing an offering given during ceremony. For example, you might bring a ho'okupu to Founder's Day at Kamehameha Schools or you may offer a ho'okupu at a hula festival or celebration. Typically, ho'okupu is in the plant form and it is the mana'o behind the offering that makes it a ho'okupu. Just think of the defintion, you want to cause growth and sprouting forth, metaphorically, through the ho'okupu. An 'ulu or breadfruit might be offered as a play on the word ulu, which also means growth. In hula, many times, the ho'okupu are kinolau or plant manifestations of Laka, the Goddess of hula. The leo, or voice can be a ho'okupu as well. If you are visiting the Leeward, dry side of the island you might offer wai, fresh water, as a ho'okupu. The idea is to evoke the mana'o through the ho'okupu being presented. Now, makana, has more of a noa feeling to it, free of kapu. It is a meaningful gift, given from the heart, but can be thought of as a little lighter than a ho'okupu. Now, just remember the 'ōlelo no'eau, 'a'ohe pau ka 'ike i ka hālau ho'okahi, not all knowledge is taught in one school. If you are a student of hula or Hawaiian protocol you may have your own understanding of ho'okupu and makana. It is also important to check with the host of the event you're attending or the place you are visiting to understand their protocol and the expectations so that your ho'okupu or makana is appropriate. Hopefully, today's Morning Mana'o gives you a little insight and makes the task of selecting ho'okupu or makana a little less daunting.

aloha nō, a hui hou,
Luana

Awaiaulu ke aloha . . .

Aloha kakahiaka e ko Maui! Here are two 'ōlelo no'eau that talk about love. The first goes, Awaiāulu ke aloha, love made fast by tying togehter. The second says, 'Uo 'ia i ka manai ho'okahi, strung like flowers on the same needle. When we think about love it's alot like making a lei. Two different people, like different flowers come together to make something beautiful. Like a lei, love is fastended by tying it together, tightly, creating a bond that is unbreakable. This kind of bond takes hard work and comittment. Comittment to each other, comittment to the marriage, comittment to being parnters. Sometimes this comittment also requires compromise. Knowing when to be humble, when to be quiet. The second 'ōlelo no'eau paints of a picture of a couple living harmoniously, like flowers strung on the same lei needle. If you've ever strung a lei you know that no two flowers are exactly the same, yet as you string the flowers onto the lei needle they begin to shift and move and bend a little until they become one, one lei. So it is in relationships. Sometimes we gotta bend, shift and move a bit, but as we work together, we become one. One beautiful lei of love fastened together. These were the 'ōlelo no'eau we chose to have inscribed on our wedding invitations 16 years ago today. It still serves as a reminder to me that love takes work, effort and comittment, but love is worth it. It's worth the ups and the downs. It's worth the sacrifice when you can look back some years later and admire your beautiful lei of love. So to all of y ou who have found love, hang on to it, nurture it, tie it together, fasten it, to do whatever it takes to keep your lei of love fresh and beautiful. Happy Anniversary, Llewellyn. Aloha au iā 'oe.

Aloha nō, a hui.
~Luana