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