Lonoikamakahiki!
This one is for our keiki.
05.08.22
Huuiii!
As we walk into kauwela, we reminisce on how we spent our hannah baddah days with our 'ohana down by the ocean, running around tutu's hale, off island trips and being surrounded by love.
Nohie continues to celebrate Hawai'i from the 'olelo makuahine of our 'aina to the 'olelo pa'i 'ai that was born out of the Kingdom of Hawai'i and its' plantation era.
A nod to our past, present and future, so that our well spoken and 'aina educated keiki remember where they came from. A nod to our past, present and future, so that we as makua never forget how hard our kupuna worked to malama our Hawai'i and we continue their work.
E ku'u wahi kanaka...
"Ua lawa makou i ka pohaku."
03.08.22
| [Hawaiian Dictionary(Hwn to Eng)] |
| kuahu n. Altar. |
Growing up as a kaiapuni kid the kuahu was always seen during Makahiki season, a time of peace aligned with rainy season to honor the god Lonoikamakahiki. Every year around November we held wehena makahiki, opening ceremony for makahiki. Every year around January or February we held panina makahiki, closing ceremony for makahiki.
This time of year is when the kuahu stood out most to me. The oli, chants, offered to Lono. The ho'okupu offered to Lono and then placed upon the kuahu. To a keiki the ceremony felt like hours of non-stop chanting and offerings to Lono.
It would not be until my time as a makua, in the here and now, that I would come to understand the importance of a kuahu. A kuahu in this phase of life has become a place to give thanks in every season. Raise your voices in chant to our akua, 'aumakua and kupuna. Put your bodies in motion to honor our akua, 'aumakua and kupuna.
E ku'u wahi kanaka...
"Our bodies are a kuahu."
-Nōhie