Ka Puana–Lighting the Path
Following are excerpts from Kailua-Kona resident Kumu Keala Ching’s book, Lighting the Path. Used with permission.
The Vision
In 2008, Barbara Garcia and I had the vision of helping the Hawai‘i Island community increase their understanding of the Hawaiian culture.
I thought there was no one more fitted to this vision than my own kumu hula and kumu oli (chant), Kumu Keala Ching. His teaching style is comprehensive, weaving together the traditions of hula, language, chant and other concepts.
In these writings from the pages of Ke Ola Magazine, he eloquently shares his knowledge from his heart and his soul as any poet would do.
Kumu Keala has a passion for sharing Native Hawaiian wisdom with all who desire to learn. His chants are composed with concepts that are both ancient and current. And like the Hawaiian language itself, they have many layers. They may be read as literature, and they may also be vocalized and performed by the students in his oli or chanting classes. They may help the reader learn the Hawaiian language as they sit with the Hawaiian dictionary by their side. The translation in English is helpful, too.
The reader who seeks to know the Hawaiian traditions will find these chants filled with love for the ‘āina (land) and nature, as well as concepts such as aloha, ho‘oponopono (forgiveness), humility, and righteousness that are foundations of all harmonious human existence.
We hope you enjoy this collection of writings from the pages of Ke Ola Magazine, authored by Kumu Keala Ching and discover some of their hidden meanings again and again.
Karen Valentine, co-founder, former editor and co-publisher, Ke Ola Magazine
Contact author Kumu Keala Ching: Nawaiiwiola.org
Lighting the Path is available from: the author, AWealthOfWisdom.com, and local bookstores.
Karen Valentine
Karen, along with Barbara Garcia, envisioned and created Ke Ola Magazine in 2008. She acted as co-publisher and editor until 2012. She has lived in Hawai‘i since 1999 and has family on Hawai‘i Island. She was co-publisher of Hawai‘i Island Journal until 2005, when she moved to Honolulu for two years. She has worked as an advertising copywriter, publisher of several magazines in Michigan, book editor and writer for such magazines as Hawai‘i Business, Enterprise magazine, Southwest Michigan Living, and Better Homes & Gardens. Karen has a college degree in journalism and art, and is a practitioner of Hawaiian cultural arts, including hula. She enjoys sailing her yacht throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
