Hikaʻalani, our partner organization at Ulupo, held its first major fundraiser on the heiau grounds on Sunday evening, August 6. Many of our KHCC members were directly involved in the event and many more had worked for two consecutive weekends at helping to prepare the grounds (particularly the springs and kukui grove) for the 100-plus guests who enjoyed "Kaʻina Mai," (the phrase means entering, proceeding, and belongs to an old chant that calls for the return of prosperity to Kawainui). Noʻeau Peralto of Hui Malama I ke Ala 'Ulili) offered the following summary of his evening at Ulupo:
"I am humbled every time I am fortunate enough to spend time with these kupa of Kailua, Oʻahu. The depth of their love and knowledge for their ʻaina, kupuna, and our lahui has inspired me immensely since the first time I met them. Yesterday Haley and I were fortunate to again be able to witness and be inspired by the ea and aloha ʻaina they embody in their halau and ʻohana. Sharing the moʻolelo of their ʻana through oratory, hula, mele, mea ʻai, and intentional and kuleana-driven hana, the ʻohana of Hikaʻalani and Halau Mohala ʻIlima are cultivating a kipuka for the rebirth of pono in their ahupuaʻa, and in setting this example they call us to "kaʻina mai," to proceed forth on this pathway together, no ka pono o ka ʻaina a me ka lahui. Their words and actions exemplify truths of our existence today as Kanaka, that we are still here, and as Maya Saffery so beautifully put it, "our kupuna are still here, they can hear their names being said again, and they're just waiting for us to recognize them." Mahalo nui ia ʻoukou e na hoa, e Kaleomanuiwa & Maya, a me ka ʻohana HMI no ke alakaʻi ʻana mai me he huihui ʻiwa la."
"I am humbled every time I am fortunate enough to spend time with these kupa of Kailua, Oʻahu. The depth of their love and knowledge for their ʻaina, kupuna, and our lahui has inspired me immensely since the first time I met them. Yesterday Haley and I were fortunate to again be able to witness and be inspired by the ea and aloha ʻaina they embody in their halau and ʻohana. Sharing the moʻolelo of their ʻana through oratory, hula, mele, mea ʻai, and intentional and kuleana-driven hana, the ʻohana of Hikaʻalani and Halau Mohala ʻIlima are cultivating a kipuka for the rebirth of pono in their ahupuaʻa, and in setting this example they call us to "kaʻina mai," to proceed forth on this pathway together, no ka pono o ka ʻaina a me ka lahui. Their words and actions exemplify truths of our existence today as Kanaka, that we are still here, and as Maya Saffery so beautifully put it, "our kupuna are still here, they can hear their names being said again, and they're just waiting for us to recognize them." Mahalo nui ia ʻoukou e na hoa, e Kaleomanuiwa & Maya, a me ka ʻohana HMI no ke alakaʻi ʻana mai me he huihui ʻiwa la."
Photo: No'eau Peralto