28 December 2019

Purified Aloha



Reflections
a blurry day
permanently imprinted
upon movable cores
before the crucible

Each footprint unique
traces of ancestral mists
chisel wisely against
cracks in society
as if to say

I am still here
beneath your step
challenging demoralization
reaching for that
withered connection

Roots of foundation
Seven generations forward
hold the key of hope
that truth bind unity
Inevitable sanctity

Patterns of repetition
history often serves
the same meal on Mondays
appealing to the senses
of unsuspecting sheep

Deduction
through subtracting fibs
protecting the red lie
while serving the blue
corporate consumer development

Reciprocation 
seven generations later
the land cries out
she has been forsaken
formidable pain birthed love

Purified Aloha 
sought by wisdom
rejecting propaganda
filtering generational trauma
producing purified aloha




Kahala Lei
copyright December 2019


05 December 2019

Nohoikawai

I kept asking
Time after time
He only said 
Nohoikawai

I wanted to know if it all was true
He didn't answer a thing, but said I knew
I knew nothing, or that I thought
He wagered the proposal that I sought

When the time was ready
All matters were through
He turned and said I always knew
No justification
No rhythm
No rhyme
No clue

Just a message so clear
And I never knew
Such was the reason
That it went through
Nohoikawai I know
Now that it was you

Remember the time
He said not why
His only answer
Was Nohoikawai

Never ask questions
Follow your dream
In the end, you will
Know what it all means.

Nohoikawai
Promised and true
Phase one complete
Moving onto phase two

Four more days and
Seven wild nights
Consider mahina
Nohoikawai heights
She'll give the answer
When the time is right
Nohoikawai never
My guardian light.



Kahala Lei
copyright December 2019

15 September 2019

Embracing Night



Shimmering stars
Pale circular moon
Sullen anguish finding spoons
Deepest blue skies
Embracing night


Kahala Māui
copyright September 2019




13 August 2019

Pathfinding the Pacific: Short History on Polynesian Navigation

“Hawaiʻi is a man, a child of Tahiti.” 



    In 1976, the Hōkūleʻa set out, with Mau Piailug as the navigator to sail the legendary sailing route to Tahiti.  Mau is a rare gem in Polynesian navigation for the fact that he is one of the last keepers of our old ways. Mau felt the need to reconnect Kanaka Maoli with our ancestral capabilities.  Micronesians are among the first Polynesian navigators and more specifically, the island nation of Satawa contains those who still practice these ancient ways of navigation.

    2000 miles west of Hawaiʻi, Mauʻs home waters surround Micronesia and he felt this trip from Hawaiʻi to Tahiti was very necessary.  Mau wanted to assure that Kanaka Maoli were able to re-align ourselves with our skillset identities, that was shared with Mau, through his father and grandfather.  

    Mau showed his crew how to become , which is well beyond the limited scope of palu.  Palu are those who only know how to sail.  Mau wanted to reconnect us with our ancestral ways of pō - complete navigational mastery.   

   People have tossed aside the old spirits to pray to the Christian God, which took away some of the magic that was held in the ancient systems of navigation and Mau warns us to maintain as much of our origins as we can, that it not be lost forever.  This evolution in methodology of prayer and ancestral connection is concerning. It is the circumcision of our complete identity and the soul contained within.
  

     Evidence and carbon dating of Lapita pottery was used to confirm that Lapita voyaging began with the Bismarck Archipelago and ended with the Chatham Islands.   Pottery and other obsidian artifacts make old voyaging habits much easier to confirm or trace. Canoes were studied to confirm how steering and controlling primitive vessels was able to be mastered in the way it was.



Kahala Lei
copyright August 2019

Tautai



Wayfinding:  is a term related to navigation and how our people used celestial bodies and the natural environment around them to determine which way to go in their voyages.

As an example:  from Hawaiʻi to Tahiti ~

As you cross the Equator, the constellation known as the Southern Cross is used along with Meridian pairs known as: Mirzam and Canis Major, Canopis and Carina - which there becomes an imaginary line that runs perpendicular with the ocean to create a point of destination.  Through this line, an imaginary line is cut through the center of the deck which maintains the course for heading to Tahiti.

During daylight hours, look at the clouds.  When the clouds change to a brownish hue, this indicates land in which the clouds are reflecting.  Migratory birds can also be observed heading toward the island.

The Polynesian Voyaging Society was founded in 1973 to prove that ancient Polynesians truly meant to settle the islands in which they have settled.  They set out to prove that the Polynesian Wayfinding truly works without modern navigation tools.

Since 1975 the Hokulea has been around the world without navigational technology.

Today, they are discovering that Polynesians had gone even further than the Pacific, of Polynesian Triangle and the one pristine wildlife area off the coast of California is surfacing evidence in an underground site, of Polynesian seafaring.

Channel Islands show evidence of an ancient seafaring culture which resemble Polynesian artifacts.  This also coincides with seafarers of South America.

Researchers find that the exodus across the Bering Strait was not the first wave of migration into the continent of North America about 10,000 years ago, but that evidence shows that Polynesians had already settled the land some 2000 years prior to that.  If this is found to be true, it would imply that Polynesians were indeed the worldʻs greatest mariners of all time, with no equal in human history.




Kahala Lei
copyright, August 2019



12 August 2019

Post-Traumatic Effects of Imperialism in Hawai'i

How one defines paradise or success is a matter of opinion.
This is because that definition is subject to differ from one person to the next.  



Many eras of humanity ago,  Pacific voyagers discovered islands distant to any other seafaring nation and inhabited each island, as a season of migration.  These voyagers,  known as Lapita people, spanned throughout southern Asia and across the Pacific long before Captain Cook expanded European maps to include new trade routes.

Bringing with them what is known as canoe plants, on their sailing expeditions, the Lapita people were quickly able to sustain in adaptability to the islands they built nations upon.  Periods lacking migration brought uniqueness to each island nation.

Life was simple.  If one wanted what the other had, they either traded or gifted the item in question.    Order accompanied law.  People were content.  There weren't any major diseases until foreigners arrived.  

When Europeans and Americans discovered Hawai'i for the first time, they saw what they felt was a perfect opportunity.  It was a perfect opportunity to spread the good word and a perfect place to make unprecedented fortunes.   It wasn't long before rumors of coup d'etat began to murmur about.  

These foreigners wanted to repeat the plight of what they had historically done to American Indians, adding in as much slavery as they could however the Kanaka Maoli - actual Hawaiian people were resilient, learning fast.  Too many hands in the pot of conquest also played many a political defeat to that of their own imperialistic cause.  Divisions were eminent but the one factor of American unity was the use of American military presence in the islands.  Unable to fuel their boats to make it all the way across the Pacific,  Honolulu proved to be convenient, especially during the Spanish-American War and the conquest to control the Philippines.

America like this arrangement as well as other fringe benefits of their presence in Hawai'i.  Unfortunately their presence in Hawai'i meant high death tolls for Kanaka Maoli.  From the loss of land and water rights,  to diseases and murder,  numbers of the original Hawaiian people shrunk from about a million to just about 40,000.

The mixed work force helped provide a constituent base that outnumbered the imperialists who sought total control over Hawai'i.  By the year of 1900,  the Home Rule Party was able to maintain some control for local populations.  Time, the events of Pearl Harbor and imperialism would soon gain a grip upon the islands that proved detrimental for local interests.

On August 21, 1959
Hawai'i was illegally entered into
the state of the union of the
United States of America


From the period of 1893 until roughly the 1970s,  the Hawaiian language, known as ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi was banned in most places including in general public.  Strict American laws prevented most of the culture from thriving,  while depression stemming from the amounts of oppression, suppression and suffering began to seep in.  This combination spurred post-traumatic reactions from the masses of people.  It didnʻt only affect Kanaka Maoli. These repercussions effected almost the entire population, sans the rich, powerful imperialists who still frown upon the local population.

Generations ago, this imperialist mentality drove many into such a lack of coping that whatever strains of culture remained, were celebrated alongside new, detrimental habits such as beating children and addiction.  Over the same course of time, suicide became a popular way out, still prevalent today in Hawaiʻi.

While still feeling the pangs of a century of oppression,  the culture of Hawaiʻi is continually purging forward with the key element of Kapu Aloha at the helm of the waʻa - canoe that everybody paddles together.  Today,  the language and culture are thriving in ways that a hundred years have not seen.  May the healing continue to vibrate across the Pacific and around the world.




Kahala Lei
copyright August 2019



Opinion on Mankind

In the beginning,  there just was.

There was no explanation,  just existence.

One cannot argue as to what one was not here to know.

Debates on such topics are relentlessly bred to cause division among people.

No people that already existed on Earth believed the Adam & Eve story because other peoples already existed here on Earth.

The story of Adam & Eve only describes what happened to those people and how they were delivered to Earth.

It is outlined in Genesis,  right after Cain killed Abel and spoke to God.  It says that God marked Cainʻs forehead,  and Cain proceeded to move east to a land known as Nod - and married a woman from that country.   This is evidence that other countries existed on Earth.

The images sold to us were to convince us that we are savages in need of redemption.  That redemption comes in the form of giving everything we have while agreeing to slavery.  The redemption is our own consent to becoming a slave.  That faith is simply Adamʻs genealogy.  We have our own genealogy.  Whether or not it goes back to his,  is another question.  However it is only logical to follow the matrilineal genetic trail,  since nobody can truly verify any father of any child,  until modern day DNA tests which only depict the type of blood one has.

Whether or not a person agrees with this view is purely opinionated - just like the views I express on this blog.  Main thing that the reader remembers that this blog is not for educational use, but rather for my own personal use. 





Kahala Lei
copyright August 2019

15 July 2019

Joseph Nāwahi

If ever there was a faithful patriot of any country, Joseph Nāwahī was an exceptional depiction of such. His hunger for education led him to realize his ambition in such ways that he was quickly able to see right through the political masks presented to him and he had no fear in calling people out on their deceptions or weakness. His drive to seek balanced solutions regarding the welfare of his people was paramount in his post-education years, where he seemed to have witnessed a lot during his tenure performing title work. Although I donʻt quite understand Nāwahīʻs personal reasoning behind his real estate dealings, I am quite sure that was nothing more than the income that kept his family afloat. Perhaps he did not quite develop the foresight on a national level at that time. Nāwahi was definitely an actively involved community member with a great deal of interests to occupy his bright mind. Intelligent people tend to have beautiful minds that often come equipped with traveling thoughts. These thoughts cause other hobbies to flourish artistically. His vision, ethics, integrity and perseverance remained unwavering making it is easy to see how his spirit was weakened enough to have had the psychosomatic episode that became his ultimate destiny, however his spirit is still strong and his legacy forever. It would be nice to do an in depth research about he and Emma to uncover more details uncoding his mind. His emotions on his sleeve, Nāwahī set his sail to assure that his country remain protected, with every fiber of his existence. For that alone, he should be fully examined and inducted into our next museumʻs Hawaiian Hero Wall of Fame. I wonder if that would inspire more Kanaka Maoli to step up in greater capacities to expose the wonders of our authentic true history.
#AlohaĀina #HooikaikaHawaii2019 #Lōkahi2019 #AoleTMT #WeAreMaunaKea #Poliahu #WarCrimes


Kahala Azuma Māui
copyright July 2019

Life Cycle of Language

Language is alive. One cannot touch language, however it touches our lives daily and is a very crucial factor in our existence. Language holds the expression as well as the values of a people. It relays communication, conveys thoughts and expresses feelings.
The life of a language depends on its usage in a given region. Many times, the loss of a language dictates the upcoming decimation of a people and is considered the end stages of death to a culture. Without an identity, culture ceases to exist. Evidence of this claim can be seen in any collapsed civilization where a population was wiped out and her remaining survivors at a loss for future sustainability. Grim circumstances portray the need to assume the next available culture, therefore abandoning all traces of the civilization that once thrived. If a language doesnʻt thrive, chance are that neither will the people of that culture. If a language dies, it is usually indicative of the death of a culture, nation or race.
When a people thrive, the language thrives and it is constantly updating to accommodate the ever-evolving times. New words are accepted as new information arises. In some cases, spelling changes to reflect the evolution of globalization. Cognates become prevalent and sounds begin to blend. This is evident in the blended progress of Latin based dialects to include other languages which have evolved since then as well. English and Spanish are two languages with Latin based roots.
The Hawaiian Language, known as ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, is the official language of the de facto State of Hawaiʻi. It is the original language that has evolved since the dawn of creation — one of the oldest known languages to mankind. 
Based mainly upon vowels and melodic in spoken nature, European explorers as well as pioneer-spirited Americans felt that ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi was quite seductive in nature. Although exotically pleasurable to the ears of foreigners, the language of Hawaiʻi wasnʻt enough to ward off imperialistic desires to ravage the paradise that was so dearly beloved.
Seduced by the charismatic culture and lush landscapes, foreigners began to dream about it being theirs. Their actions excused — for their belief system allowed freedom to sin and be forgiven, aliens to the islands forged well beyond the scopes of sharing the Good Word. Foreign agenda now included ownership of lands and power over government, however did not win legalization of heroin farms and slavery. Had they succeeded in these efforts, Hawaiʻi would be in a far worse position right now.
Within a hundred years of initial European discovery via Captain James Cook, the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi suffered a near total decimation of population as well as a crucial loss of power with ever increasing amounts of foreigners.
Ravaging diseases plagued the islands until entire towns were evacuated and set on fire to deter further tragedy. Kanaka Maoli — the original people of Hawaiʻi, refused the thought of working for the people who were bullying them out of their own country. Thus with dying populations and on the brink of civil war with the immigrants who brought the Bible and stripped everything else from the people of Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiian Monarchy was held at gunpoint from the US Navy, and Queen Liliʻuokalani was abdicated from her throne.
Sparing the final bloodshed of her people, the Queen stepped down and honored the violent insurgentsʻ wishes. Imprisoned as a hostage in her own palace, there wasnʻt much Queen Liliʻuokalani could do for her people except record her history. In 1898, Hawaiʻi was illegally annexed by America and has been illegally occupied under what the International Criminal Court and United Nations define as War Crimes. Other nations who have historically had Treaties with the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi still do today.
In recent years, the history of Hawaiʻi has been going worldwide. People flock to Hawaiʻi to help restore the landscape from military destruction and over-development. Environmental agencies are uniting with locals to end poison drops that destroy the entire ecosystem. The corruption that has bound Hawaiʻi for nearly 200 years is coming to a head and the world is watching.
Top genetic analysts claim that by the year 2044, the final decimation of the Hawaiian people will have been completed. Due to severe restriction and punishment for decades, the language of the people died out. Identity completely erased, Kanaka Maoli began to believe that their very ancestors were evil savages. This shattered sense of existence broke the spirit of a people so beautiful within — a people connected to the very dawn of creation. Imagine belonging to a race of people that were considered an endangered species. How would you feel if you were the last of your people to have survived?
The 1970s brought upon a renaissance with the bombing of Kahoʻolawe. A group of young Kanaka Maoli to form a group, a plan and make their way across a dangerous oceanic channel to the bomb target. Successful in stopping the bombing, many people had awakened and realized that their full existence was nearly erased in the events of the prior 200 years. People scrambled to share compiled information, forming a curriculum in which to teach the culture and history of Hawaiʻi.
In the past few years, battles concerning issues of every nature have provoked all people of Hawaiʻi to step up and take a stance. Arrests happen when the police get involved to protect corporate interests. One particular incident involves a protector of whatʻs sacred to Hawaiʻi.
Having been arrested for attempting to stop the desecration of our sacred mountain, Kaleikoa Kaeo chose to speak his native tongue in the eyes of the law where he was further punished for speaking the official language of the State of Hawaiʻi. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is the official language of the State of Hawaiʻi whose own state motto is written in Hawaiian. After public prompting the judge to see his own fault, change has been inspired to occur and the people of Hawaiʻi are pushing harder than ever to reconnect with language and identity.
As the language had a near 80 year time lapse, many terms had to be created to modernize the language. The formation of a grammatical structure made the language capable of being taught in schools. The modernization of the language made it relevant to the times in which we now live.
Today, classes and language groups are forming everywhere. People are eager to learn their native tongue and express themselves in the very manner their ancestors once did. Now that the language has come back to life, so has the spirit of the people. The language now thrives as her speakers are equally thriving, as a result. The resurrection of a language can determine the quality of life to the region in which it derives. Language breeds life, is organic, and is powerful. Therefore the life of a language is important to the very essence of life itself.

#ŌleloHawaii #WeAreMaunaKea #BlountReports #SenatorGeorgeBacon #HawaiianKingdom #LanguageIsLife #WaterIsLife #Knowledge #Expression #Hooikaika #Imua #KanakaMaoli #Polynesia #AoleTMT

Kahala Azuma Māui
copyright July 2019


26 June 2019

Save the Salt Ponds of Kauaʻi

To:  Planning Commission
       c/o County of Kauai Planning Department
       4444 Rice Street, Suite A473
       Līhu'e, Kauai 96766
       Email:  jgalinato@kauai.gov

From:  _______________________
_______________________



Re:  Smoky Mountain Helicopters, Inc., 
a Delaware Corporation,
doing business as Maverick Helicopters -  
Permit Applications Nos. 
Class IV Zoning Permit Z-IV-2019 -13,
Use Permit U - 2019 - 10, 
and Special Management Area Minor Permit
SMA(U) -2019-5

25 June 2019



Aloha e Kākou,

My name is_________________. Some of my ancestors are from Kauaʻi,  of which I am of lineal connection and heir to their covenants and to which I would like to see restored,  rather than destroyed.   This lineal connection affords me an undivided interest in the affairs of Kauaʻi.

I do not support this application for After-the-Fact approval for numerous structures including the addition of restroom facilities within the existing hangar as well as additional infrastructure at the Port Allen Airport because we are concerned with any kind of development or expansion at the Port Allen Airport.  

The Salt Ponds of Hanapēpē is the last existing area in all of Hawaiʻi that produces paʻakai in this manner and I stand in solidarity with our salt making ʻohana.  I have been fortunate to receive salt from salt makers of Hanapēpē and am thankful for this gift. It would be inhumane to destroy our last existing remnants of identity,  culture and healing practices. It would be foolish to think that nature can be raped and abused, and still survive intact. Look at what industrialization has done to the world around us already.   Even a high school environmental science student knows that this is detrimental to the natural state of the surrounding ecosystem.

Many of us know that this salt is not found in any stores and that it is used for ceremonies, food preparation, and for medicine.  The close proximity of Port AllenAirport to the leina-a-ka-uhane and the Hanapēpē Salt Ponds and its potential contribution to the pollution, noise, and heavy metal contaminants and chemical stormwater runoff has been a longstanding concern for the community.  

Therefore,  let it hereby be resolved  to do whatever it takes to PROTECT this invaluable place,  thus the request that the Applicant be DENIED these permits.



Sincerely, 

______________

16 June 2019

Nohoikawai: ʻEiwa


Nohoikawai
Youʻve been blessful to me
Delivering exactly the promise that
You have gifted openly
Kealohapū


Kealohapū
Manner in which to grow
Delivering exactly the promise
Imparting expected
Kahōʻaʻano

Kahōʻaʻano
Not quite slapped in the face
Delivering exactly the foundation
Requiring humanness
Nākuhihewa

Nākuhihewa
Requiring four strong posts
Delivering exactly the foundation
Meant to last forever
Hoʻopaneʻe

Hoʻopaneʻe
Building fresh foundation
Delivering exactly the support
Prerequisite sustains
Kaʻonipaʻa

Kaʻonipaʻa
Not willing to give up
Delivering exactly the message
Truth will never give in
Kahewanui

Kahewanui
Eradicating lies
Delivering exactly the support
Perpetuating one
Hoʻolokahi

Hoʻolokahi
One resound in echo
Delivering exactly the promise
Our ancestors ere made
Hoʻomanaʻo

Hoʻomanaʻo
Acquiring from the source
Delivering exactly the solution
Identification
Kekumuʻana

Kekumuʻana
Habituating self
Delivering exactly the message
Defy ineptitude
Hoʻowaiwaiʻe

Hoʻowaiwaiʻe
Raising expectation
Delivering exactly the recourse
Accountability
Pilikualā

Pilikualā
Eliminating war
Delivering exactly the path
Defining excellence
Hoʻokūkulu

Hoʻokūkulu
Adding to the structure
Delivering the exact order of completion
Strengthening existence
Paʻakahua

Paʻakahua
From restlessness comes peace
Delivering exact precision of equity
Bringing balance to life
Nohoikawai



Kahala Lei
copyright  June 2019









07 June 2019

Dedications to You


Not quite a lifetime, but forever since weʻve seen
Memories of your regal breath decorate my dreams
Retaining your knowledge, protected and true
I dedicate this little poem to you.

You taught me well, you taught me life
Organic recipe, determined stripe
Not one for talk, but the action type
You said donʻt try, my girl, just do
I dedicate my efforts all to you.

Brushing disaster, you always held strong
Skills you taught, held me this long
I dedicate my education all to you
I dedicate my laughter, I dedicate my pain
I dedicate every night that I ever slept out in the rain
I dedicate joys and conquests too
But main thing is that I dedicate my achievement to you.

Morals you held, head proudly high
As virgin mother earth kisses the sky
In the stars, in the heavens, this promise held true
I dedicate my lifeʻs work, all unto you.

I dedicate my victories,  celebrate communal gain
No more homeless people to sleep in the rain
No more sweet earth to kiss the sky
Only grandmaʻs lullabies.
If sweet little songs make smiles
No matter the occasion, one thing is true.
I dedicate this scribe with love
From me to you

To my Nana with Everlasting Love
copyright June 2019


Wise Elder Once Said


True Friends

Wise elder once said that a person with too many friends,  is no friend.  
This was a puzzling riddle as a child because I thought a person with a lot of friends was friendly.

Wise elder once said that friendly didnʻt necessarily mean friend. 
Does that mean that they are nice,  but not loyal?
Yes.

Wise elder once said that loyalty summarized all the traits of a friend.
Does that mean that everything equals loyalty?
Yes.

Wise elder once said that loyalty was the culmination of honesty, solidarity and bond.  Not everybody knows how to bond,  but bonding is important.  It means that in whatever way you are connected to another person,  that you will never cross them wrong.  It means that in everything you do,  you will uplift them.  It means that you will have good times and bad ones, but you will always be connected.  it means that no matter how much time and space come between you,  they are always with you.

Wise elder said that true friends would never bring you down.
The only time you go near them is to take an action, good or bad.
Those people are your enemies.

Wise elder said to protect what you have and never to offer your dignity.
Whatever you worked hard to build, document it well and treasure it,  for it will bring you peace and joy.  Your true friends will keep whatʻs sacred to you, sacred.



Wise man once said that true friends are a rare gem.
Treasure them well.

copyright June 2019