Ka Wehena: Lanikepu
Na Kumu Keala Ching
| I uka, kua mana o Lanikepu Waiwai Kohakohau, i ola ai Wahi uluwehiwehi o Waiaka Noho ‘ia ka wahine i laila nō Pali Kapu o nā li‘i o Waimea Wai Kohakohau, Wai Waikoloa Hā‘ina ka wahine ‘o Ho‘opiliahae He mele nō ka wahine ‘o Ho‘opiliahae |
Upland, a sacred mountain of Lanikepu Water of Kohakohau, indeed life giving Lush forest found in Waiaka A women sat there above Cliffs sacred chiefs of Waimea Stream of Kohakohau, Stream of Waikoloa It is told of Ho‘opiliahae A song honoring a woman, Ho‘opiliahae |
Kaulana ke kupuna o Ho‘opiliahae, ‘o Wao ho‘i ia. He mo‘o‘olelo kēia pili i ka hō‘au ‘o Mākuakaumana lāua ‘o Wao i uka o ka pu‘u ‘o Lanikepu. U‘i a kapu nō ‘o Lanikepu, ka pu‘u ‘o Waimea a launa pū me kō Wao mau keiki; ‘o Keonihi ‘oe, ‘o Kauniho ‘oe, ‘o Waiaka ‘oe, ‘o Haleaha ‘oe a ‘o Waiauia nō ho‘i. I Lanikepu, aia ke kahawai ‘o Kohakohau i hānai ‘ia ana i ka ‘āina ka‘apuni ona a me kona mau iwi hiwahiwa. Kaha ‘ia ka wai ola i Waikoloa lāua ‘o Keanuiomanō e ke kahawai ‘o Kohakohau.
In honor of Ho‘opiliahae’s ancestor Wao, this chant shares the unity of Mākuakaumana with Wao high in the hills of Lanikepu. The beauty of Lanikepu is found in the story of Wao’s children on the sacred hills of Waimea; Keonihi, Kauniho, Waiaka, Haleaha, and Waiauia. For the streams of Kohakohau, it feeds the surrounding lands and people through the Waikoloa stream and the Keanuiomanō stream respectively.
Honoring our past through stories, chants, and songs allows us to appreciate and live within our present life acknowledging our courage to perpetuate wahi pana (sacred places), mo‘o‘olelo (stories), oli (chant), mo‘omeheu (culture), and ho‘olina (legacy) of our people for the future. Famous are the beautiful mountains of Waimea, the water source and knowledge to the lands below. Eō Lanikepu!
Contact writer Kumu Keala Ching: kumukeala@nawaiiwiola.org
Kumu Keala Ching
Kumu Keala Ching is a Hawaiian cultural educator, composer, song writer, and spiritual advisor to many Hawaiian organizations. He lives and breathes aloha into his Hawaiian heritage with his strong presence and great heart. Under the tutelage of Loea Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, Kumu Keala spent many years learning and building his knowledge. He is fluent in the Hawaiian language, which he uses as the foundation for teaching all of his students. Kumu Keala lives in Kailua-Kona, where he is Kumu Hula for Ka Pa Hula Na Wai Iwi Ola (the ancient waters of life) and co-founder and executive director of Na Wai Iwi Ola (NWIO) Foundation.
