The Afterglow

The 2013 and 50th Anniversary of Merrie Monarch Festival is completed. The costumes have returned home, the adornments have been returned to their resting places, the awards sit proudly in their assigned spot, the hundreds of photos are being reviewed, the beautiful things that were purchased are being admired, and numerous thoughts are being shared. There was nothng like this year. It indeed celebrated those things that we love; hula, music, chant, hana no'eau, food, friends, and enjoyment.

I am grateful for the warm hospitality of the people of Hilo who welcomed hundreds of people into their home. They shared their favorite eating places, parking spots, and stores with us. They were patient with those of us who didn't know where we were going or were impatient to get somewhere. They exhibited the finest qualities of neighbor island living. I'm sure for most of them it is good to get their town back and to get back to their regular routine.

Mahalo to the legions of supporters for each hula dancer. More than could ever be counted; babysitters, van drivers, hair dressers, seamstresses, musicians, cooks, lei makers, those who bought fundraiser items, and those who massaged sore bodies. Each person in the support system was critical to the success of the dancer. If you multiply that by the hundreds of dancers who graced the stage, you have a unbelievable amount of people who support the cultural practice of hula. We are grateful for each of them.

Most of all, mahalo to Luana Kawelu, Kathy, and George who make all of it possible. They work tirelessly and into the early morning so that we can enjoy. I cannot know the particulars of such an immense undertaking, but I am grateful for those who continue to do it year after year. The men of Koa Puna, the many ushers and volunteers, and the royal court. So many Hilo folks who do it for the love of their home and for hula.

So, mahalo to all who contributed to the the Merrie Monarch's 50th Anniversary. We'll see you next year!

A History of Excellence

Last night was the Ho'ike night at the 50th anniversary of the Merrie Monarch Festival. There was high anticipation for what was to occur, and no one was disappointed. The Edith Kanaka'ole Stadium was full to capacity, energy filled the room, and the audience was totally engaged in the performances.

From Skylark's beautiful and thoughtful emceeing to each of the performers, excellence abound. Halau O Kekuhi set the pace with non-stop hula which ranged from their classic hula to their more contemporary offerings. Many of the senior members of the halau were dancing and giving their 200% and best efforts. It was electrifying.

Each group that performed after reminded us all of why we love hula. From dancers who have spent over 50 years on the stage to dancers who are newer to this art form, we were thrilled each time. Hau'oli Hula Maidens, 'Ilima Hula Studio, Na Pualei O Likolehua, Halau Na Kamalei, Waimapuna, and all of the individual recording artists were unbelievable. Each one bringing their special performances which we remember and love. Each doing their very best at what they love to do.

But for me, the Miss Aloha Hula performance was the crowning jewel. Exhibited on the stage was more than these individual dancers who have been recognized as being excellent dancers, on the stage were decades and lifetimes of hula dedication. They represent their hula lineage, they fulfill their Kumu Hula's dream, they carry on a tradition, and they love to dance. You could not help but smile and sway as dancers from 1971 to 20012 danced together. They were beautiful, they danced beautifully, and they were hula. May that vision of hula excellence continue to inspired hula dancers everywhere for many more generations.

Kokua and Laulima

Kokua and laulima are two Hawaiian cultural values that live even today. Yet they are slightly different from one another.

Kokua to assist one another, usually on a one-to-one basis or one-on-small-group. A more personal way to be of assistance. Helping your mother by mowing the yard, helping your sister make dinner, or helping a friend pick up her children from soccer. All of this is kokua and all of this is important. 'Ike aku, 'ike mai, kokua aku, kokua mai, pela ihola ka nohona Hawai'i.

Laulima is cooperation or many hands together. This is a baby lu'au preparation, making an imu, or a fundraiser for a halau or sports team. Many people doing their part to make the large event successful. Each person's contribution benefits many. Conversely, if someone fails to do their part, a part of the event fails. E ala! E alu! E kuilima!

Both activities are needed and well practiced in a community or group that cares for each other. It is what makes living in Hawai'i wonderful.

Ah Summer..

Ah Summer...what a lovely time of year. Yes, here in Hawai'i it's a little hot, okay sometimes a lot hot, but it reminds us that we can easily go to the beach and enjoy. Summer has long days which let us come home from work, toss a few things in the car, and still have a couple of hours of daylight for beach time, family visit time, sitting in the yard time, visiting friends time, and just enjoying being together. Maybe your favorite places have names like Makena, Launiupoko, Kanaha or maybe Punalu'u, Ka'a'awa, or Ala Moana. No matter the name, the joy is still the same.

There is also nothing better than smelling barbecue...hibachi...grilling...or whatever you call it. Just the smoky smell of cooking, makes us all remember beach days, sun, and fun. Everything tastes better; vegetables, chicken, and of course meat, when done on a grill. Luckily there are always places that a good grilled "something" is available. I know it might not be what some say is healthy...but once and a while, ummmm.

So before our summer runs out, find some time to go to the beach, visit family and friends, and do a little grilling.

The Olympics remind me that striving for excellence is a wonderful thing to do. Our Hawaiian culture is a fine example of that. Our ancestors did not accept "good enough" but tried to have perfection in what they did. Without excellence we can not reach greater accomplishment.

So, what does that mean today when it is more acceptable to "go with the flow" rather than to focus on perfection. When disciplining mind and body is seen as restricting. When the teachings of the past is seen as old fashion. Indeed these are questions that we think about sometimes. Does any of this matter today? Maybe watching the Olympics will bring those thoughts to the surface again.

Do A Culture

How will the Hawaiian nation be built? It will be built one person at a time. It will be built because Hawaiians will know who they are as a people and who they are as a culture. It is my contention that each Hawaiian should know something about their culture...some sort of hana or some sort of 'ike. As the 'olelo no'eau says, I ka hana ka 'ike, in doing one learns. It tells us many things; that we must DO something, not just watch, that there is knowledge gained when one is willing to work hard at something, and increased knowledge comes from increased work. For me, that should also be a cultural hana...otherwise who are we as Hawaiians. If we are not learning something about our cultural values, behaviors, and outlooks then we are not learning to think from a Hawaiian perspective.

If we make Hawaiian food then we need to know about how it was made traditionally and be able to do that too. If you make haupia; do you know what pia looks like, how it grows, where it grows and when is the best time to harvest it. Do you know where and when to collect the coconut, how to husk the coconut, how to make the coconut cream, and do you grow the coconut. So many things to know because I Ka Hana Ka 'Ike. 

So, as part of the making is there also a part of sharing, is there a part of being patient, is there a part of teaching, is there a part of Hawaiian thinking. I think so, and when all of that occurs, Hawaiian culture and the Hawaiian people prosper.

Barefoot College

After participating in TedxMaui this past weekend I decided to look up some of the TedTalks online. I thought this one was interesting since the speaker began a Barefoot College which appreciates the wisdom and intelligence of the common person, especially the grandmothers. Enjoy

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/lang/en//id/1248

New Year

Whether you follow the solstice, Ke Ala Polohiwa A Kanaloa, or January 1 Gregorian calendar, the times they are a changing. Now is the time for us all to reset, start anew, be hopeful, and look forward. Looking forward however does not mean forgetting the past. For many of us we look to the past in order to move forward. Whatever way you like to look at it, we each have an opportunity to set aside this time to reflect on what has occurred and to look forward to the possibilities yet to come.

My screen saver says, "Spend more time on duplicating what works rather than dwelling on what is broken." Something to ponder on.

'O Kanaloa, 'o Lonokapao me Kaneikawaiola

O Kanaloa, o Lonokapao me Kaneikawaiola. 

A fine morning to wake up to today. It rained most of the night on and off, the sky was cloudy just during sunrise, but as the daylight grew so did the appearance of the sun. It is now sunny with blue skies and puffy clouds. Indeed a time for all three gods to gather; Ke Ala Polohiwa A Kanaloa, Lonoikamakahiki, and Kaneikawaiola. E ola no, ea!

Ke Ao Polohiwa A Kanaloa

We are in that wonderful season of Lono where the environment is alive with wind, rain, gushing streams and crashing seas. It is great to see and experience that around us.

Ke Ao Polohiwa A Kanaloa is also upon us. Also known by others as the winter solstice and is the time when the sun reaches it furthest travel toward the south and will begin is journey back toward the north. The days will begin to get longer as the sun moves toward Ka Piko O Wakea. Whether you mark the date on Wednesday December 21 or Thursday December 22, go out and greet the sun in the morning. When the first edge of the sun reaches the horizon until the bottom edge clears the horizon, join us in welcoming Kanehoalani. E Kanehoalani e, e Kanehoalani e, aloha kaua.

Feed Me

Mac Application.

I just learned about a new Mac application called Feed Me that teaches Hawaiian in a very elementary and simple way.  It looks like it was originally designed for children but it works for beginners to learn in a very fun way. You can always pretend it is for a child and use it for yourself. Seems to be only on the Mac platform right now but if anyone sees something similar for a Droid, let us know. FEED ME, a name that I can relate to.

To See...

Now that the Makahiki season is here and will officially start this weekend, it is a great time to get outside and "see" our environment. It is alive with wind, waves, rain, gushing rivers, and flourishing plants. Take some time to be in it and experience it.

My new way to "see" is through photography. I'm not very good at it but I want to get better. I am finding that through photography I am slowing down, I am looking more closely at things, I'm thinking about light and balance, and I'm taking the time to go outside. These are all good things to do in my busy life.

As one of my photography teachers said, "it is a good way to get to know your home." I plan to do that.

Losses are never easy

Over the last few months we have had so many losses in our hula and music community. Those people who have brought unending joy, created thrilling experiences, and through their music and dance were with us in the important times of our lives. We may have known them well, we may have known them a little, and we may have not known them personally at all. These same people truly seemed to reach into our minds and hearts and know just what to say.

They will always bring remembrances of wonderful times, sad times, exciting times, shared times, and alone times. They will always be friend, family, kumu, and those who have touched our lives. They will always be with us.

To all those who have been this and much more to each of us...aloha.

Star Gazing

Summer is a wonderful time to go out in the evening and gaze at the stars. The sky is usually clear and there are many interesting things going on during the month of July. In the Hawaiian lunar calendar the month of Hinaia‘ele‘ele begins in early July.

A day for going outside for the Lahaina Noon or when your shadow is contained within your body is coming up. In Hawaiian culture, this is a very special occasion known as “kau ka lā i ka lolo” or “the sun is placed within the brain.” A time filled with mana.  This occurs on July 18 @ 12:32 p.m. here in Kahului.

The Aquarid Meteor Shower is at its peak during the night of July 28-29. So stay up late on July 28, go to a place with no ambient light, and watch them fall. The total active time of the meteor shower will be from July 18-August 18 with up to 20 meteors per hour. The viewing should be okay from Hawai’i but the better view will be in the southern hemisphere.

Hula and Competition

In general I think hula competitions are good. They prepare a dancer and a halau to a level of accomplishment that may not be achieved when doing ho'ike alone. The focused energy, time, and commitment to learning and perfecting the hula for presentation is time well spent. The in-depth learning of mele, poetry, story, and place bring life to the dance. The comraderie of the dancers with their Kumu when preparing for the competition is priceless.

When healthy competition takes a wrong turn is when people forget to leave the competition on the competition floor. Yes, if you feel you did a fantastic job in your performance then it doesn't matter what the judges think you have accomplished. Yes, you want to win because it validates all the hard work. After all you don't enter a competition if you don't want to compete. But one day or night, one or two dances, do not determine your worth as a Kumu, a dancer, or a halau. That is determined by the days, nights, weeks, and years of passion and love for hula and Hawaiian culture.

So, congratulations to all who take the time and effort to bring your hula to your highest level of perfection. It can only be good for us all.

Educational success

What a wonderful weekend seeing Hawaiians accomplish what they desired. Graduating from local high schools, to Hawaiian Immersion, to the University and reaching the goals they set. We no longer accept past views of Hawaiians being uneducated and unable to make decisions. WE can and we are.

Whatever we want to do we can. We can get higher degrees, we can be business owners, we can have successful families, we can contribute to our communities, and we can reach our goals. We are Hawaiians and we are here to stay.

Summer approaches

As May winds down and the summer begins, life in Hawai'i becomes all that the local folks look forward to. There are beach days, camping days, visiting with 'ohana, and spending time with friends. The flowering trees have canopies of yellow plumeria, red lehua, delicate white kukui, and bushes of gardenia. The lychee will begin to ripen and the mango are not far behind.

The beaches become active with barbeques, boogie boards, and laughing children. Add the bamboo pole fishing when the oama run and there's something for everyone out there. There are many sunshining days and star studded nights to enjoy with falling stars. Enjoy all that summer has to offer.

The Most Giving People

Yesterday was Aloha Iapana and it was a night of absolutely wonderful entertainment and giving people. From the organizers, to the staff of the MACC, to the Emcees, to the stage crew, to the audience, to the volunteers, to the kumu hula and halau, and to the entertainers. A special mahalo to Napua Makua and Karey Oura Kapoi for their vision, hard work, and neverending energy. Everyone was there to assist in raising money for the devastation in Japan. A most worthy reason.

My thoughts today however are about the various entertainers who came to donate their time and talent to the cause. I believe Hawaiian entertainers and performers are the most giving people. They are often called upon to help many organizations and groups. Many of them willingly and often assist by lending their personal time. They bring their bands, hula dancers, voices, music, and willingness to kokua.

This is especially noteworthy because for many of them, it is their profession. It is how they make their living and it is how they are to the world. Unlike many of us who go to a daily job to be paid, many of these performers are paid sporadically so each time they perform, it it how they are financially supported. For them to donate their time and talent is such a gift of aloha on behalf of all of us.

So I say aloha and mahalo for all the Hawaiian entertainers and performers who give so willingly over and over again.

Hawaiian Learning

A century ago, Native Hawaiians were one of the world’s most literate population groups. Native people were navigators, scientist, explorers, lawyers, judges, statesmen, doctors, teachers, and writers. There were more than one hundred Hawaiian language newspapers in circulation expounding on local issues, government challenges, trade concerns, foreign relations, and international politics. Native people were vibrantly engaged in every aspect of public life. Early western explorers and traders who arrived at what became known as the Hawaiian Islands consistently described the Native people as strong, healthy, and robust. Historical records reveal that early Hawaiians were lovers of reading, mathematics, and science. The Native people’s enthusiasm and propensity for learning has been described in books, journals, and newspapers compiled by early educators.

Over the course of the next years those advancements were significantly eroded to alarmingly dismal statistics. Those statistics can be changed. Today we should have as a leading goal to reverse the tragic decline in academic achievement, to stimulate an inherent joy of learning, and to reconnect students and their families to their cultural legacy of exploration, inventiveness, and excellence. We need to enthusiastically engage children, youth and families in culturally based training and activities that will reawaken a natural enthusiasm for learning. It is our belief that when students are passionately involved in their learning and are supported by family and community, their likelihood of educational succes and seeking further education is significantly increased. 

To this end we must support Hawaiian Language Immersion learning, Hawaiian Based Public Charter Schools, programs like Na Pua No'eau, and many others like it. We must create after-school and summer programs in which excellence in learning and a Hawaiian cutural base are the foundation. With these efforts our children's progress and achievements will be assured. Our future depends on it.

Looking around

A recent conversation reminded me that there are many folks that go through their days and nights not looking and noticing the place we call home. Simple things like; what phase is the moon in tonight, or why don't you see the moon out tonight, or where is the sun rising from today, where is it setting tonight, or even what direction is the wind blowing.

Our kupuna were keen observers of their surroundings and knew every aspect of their environment. The numerous ways rain falls and the wind blows. The different characteristics of the ocean and all creatures and plants within it. What particular cloud formations meant and how it helped them predict weather. Not least of which was the keen understanding of the water cycle that allows all things to live.

We live on these very same islands, we see the very same sun, moon, and stars, they still are part of our lives. In these modern times we might think that these skills are old fashioned and have been replaced by scientific discoveries. But I think if we do not continue to be a part of our environment, we may make irreversable mistakes.

So, take a moment to look up at the heavens at the clouds, to watch the sun rise or set, to gaze at the ocean's many colors and movements, and to appreciate all that Hawai'i is. Then, once you have done that, teach someone else to do the very same thing.