From Tadia Rice: Please join Hawaii Maoli as we honor Mapuana and Kihei de Silva with the 2017 Ka Mana O Ke Kanaka Award on Saturday, March 4th at the beautiful Moku Ko‘olaupoko at Makapu‘u Meadows. Also honored will be conservation advocate Ulalia Woodside and Senator Gilbert Kahele (posthumous). These four remarkable individuals have made kanaka maoli their hana po‘okela. Each has made significant contributions to the Hawaiian community with their leadership in community development, business, and cultural preservation. Inspired by our honorees, the theme of this year’s event is NaPua no ka Wekiu (flowers of the highest branch).
From Kihei and Mapuiana: Lisa Okinaga, a student, graduate, and dear friend of ours recently composed a mele for her Nuʻuanu home. Its chorus tells us, "Aloha kuʻu ʻaina / Aloha wale e." One of several ways to translate this seemingly simple expression is: "I love my land. I love it without hesitation or qualification; I just love it." Aloha ‘aina, in all of its simplicity and complexity, is what keeps us going. If honor comes to us, that honor belongs to the ʻaina that we do our best to serve.
From Kihei and Mapuiana: Lisa Okinaga, a student, graduate, and dear friend of ours recently composed a mele for her Nuʻuanu home. Its chorus tells us, "Aloha kuʻu ʻaina / Aloha wale e." One of several ways to translate this seemingly simple expression is: "I love my land. I love it without hesitation or qualification; I just love it." Aloha ‘aina, in all of its simplicity and complexity, is what keeps us going. If honor comes to us, that honor belongs to the ʻaina that we do our best to serve.
