Aloha ‘Āina: Waimea I Uka
By Ku‘ulei Keakealani
On April 20, 2008 a group assembled on a misty Waimea morning. The destination was somewhat clear and somewhat vague, i uka, to the uplands, was our chosen destination. Were we on a journey for answers? Perhaps. Five individuals with questions overlapping one another, nevertheless, not a word was spoken. It was a quest that had more meaning for us just to be in place with the elements as opposed to any other reasoning. We moved with and in the spirit of aloha ‘āina.
Yes, that was the purpose—aloha ‘āina—for us who speak its stories, compose and sing its mele, dance its hula, and recall our childhood within it. This is our ‘āina aloha, beloved homeland. The bouncy truck ride took us as far into the mountainside as we could go. Knee-high rubber boots, rain jackets zipped tight, and a walking stick on hand for weariness. Here we go, I thought.
The following is a journal entry from our trip.
I invite you to experience ‘āina aloha.
Journal entry April 20, 2008
The trail laced with red ‘ohelo welcomes us and we enter into the bosom of the mountain—Hu ka momona! ‘Olapa dance above us to the rhythm of the wind which blows the ‘ohu in—this uhi, covering to the hillsides.
The Lehua call to us, we see and touch its powerful beauty caressed by the droplets of rain. Pa‘ahoa perhaps? ‘E‘elekoa or maybe the Kipu‘upu‘u?
Our boots squeak and slide as we make our way in—into an unknown destination. Our walk, or our walking is maybe our destination.
Hele (i) mua, onward we go!
STOP—pause, take a moment to see all which surrounds us. Too often we miss the beauty spread before our eyes. Not this time, not too busy to see, notice and realize. Inhale this beauty, this gift. He makana no!
Our voices flow through the forest, skim across the waters of the stream, wrap around the branches, and folds its love upon all which is the forest. A lei tossed and left floating in the middle of the Waikoloa stream. The adornments we leave in reciprocation for all that has been given to us.
The destination, it seems, keeps calling and so the travelers continue upward. Hands scoop the cold tinged water, water beads hang from my fingertips. This chilling water of the stream. The face is splashed, this cool water awakens my being. This perhaps—is the awaited destination?
The uluhe prepares a path and we walk in gratitude, complete gratification. Feeling total satisfaction of God’s marvelous creations gifted to us this day. The birds of these uplands share the sweet berries with us—singing an inviting tune, just as if saying, “stop to pick and enjoy the ‘ohelo, just as I taste the sweetness of the forest, so too can you!”
Wet and quenched, we descend from the place of the living, sacred waters of Kāne. Aia i hea ka wai a Kāne? Aia i Waikoloa ka wai a Kāne ka wai ola a Kāne! Forever flow these waters of Kāne through the waterway of Waikoloa.
Ola no ka wai ‘olu, ka wai anu o Waikoloa!
Destination… Reached!
Mahalo and aloha, until the next time.
• • •
‘Āina aloha, beloved land, cherished by its inhabitants, both native and newcomer. This land and sea, Hawai‘i, the beauty abounds. Whether it is the seemingly barren lava field or the picture perfect white sand bay, the mountain slope of Mauna Loa, or the distinct hill of Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a, these places that we set our feet upon and lay our heads to rest deserve our absolute best.
Yes, the best of ourselves, the best of our efforts to mālama and, at a minimum, the best of our energies and thoughts for their good and benefit. Wouldn’t you say?
Throughout this island, and state for that matter, there are many people, groups, and organizations that work endlessly to care for their places. I’d say these efforts are truly a “labor of love.” The magnitude of these endeavors is not for some self-promoting motive or recognition in the least; it is purely because of our love for place that we carry on the workings that we do. For some, it is the ancestral connection that binds us to a certain place or region, while for others it’s a calling or a destiny. Loko i‘a (fishpond) restoration projects, re-forestation projects, cleanup efforts, gardens being sung to, seeds being dispersed, wahi pana visited, ho‘okupu offered and yes, even Sunday morning walks to special places. These places can stir memories of “before days” that could span generations upon generations. Walking in the footsteps of your kūpuna, does something to you—for you.
In Hawai‘i today there are so many people who make up our communities. Some people have been here for several months, relocated from another island or state, some, perhaps, have lived here for most of their lives. Native Hawaiians who can trace their genealogies to the time of the ruling chiefs or beyond to people who are second or third generation immigrants. No matter the “composition” of our communities, we are in it together. The caring for and honoring of these special places are in our hands—literally!
Our home will see benefits to a much larger extent if done together by all. This brings to mind an ‘ōlelo no‘eau or poetic proverb, which reads:
“‘A‘ohe hana nui ke ‘alu ‘ia, no task is too big when done together by all.”
In this light, the attitude we possess and the willingness we have to contribute to the overall good can be realized if we live the words of this phrase. I know there are many ways in which one can contribute to the amazing work being done in various communities. I offer a word of encouragement—find out what’s going on in your area and pitch in, if and when possible. There is certainly no lack of volunteer days that can be found happening on any given weekend in one or more communities. Many great purposes and objectives are being met and health restored to many special places. Find one close to you, or not, and join in the efforts. Speaking from experience, they are incredibly fulfilling and at the end of the day you and place are so much better for it. Ready? Set? Go!
There’s really something to be said and celebrated here—our beautiful island home of Hawai‘i nei. To each and every place cared for by its people, and to each and every person who keeps on keeping on doing the awesome work for their respective places, I say, “Ola, life to you and all our ‘āina aloha, cherished and beloved lands.” ❖
Submitted with aloha ~ Ku‘ulei Keakealani
Contact writer/photographer Ku‘ulei Keakealani: kuumehananani@yahoo.com
Volunteer Opportunities
Amy Greenwell Botanical Garden: BishopMuseum.org/greenwell
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park: NPS.gov/havo/index.htm
Hawaii Wildlife Fund: WildHawaii.org
Ka‘ahahui ‘O Ka Nāhelehele: DrylandForest.org
Kaloko-Honokahau National park: NPS.gov/kaho/index.htm
Kohala Watershed: KohalaWatershed.org/volunteers.html
Outdoor Circles around the island: OutdoorCircle.org
Glossary of Hawaiian words and phrases
‘Āina aloha—beloved land
Aloha ‘āina—love of land
‘A‘ohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia— No work is too big when done by all
‘E‘elekoa—stormy, another rain name of Waimea, Hawai‘i
He makana no—indeed a gift
Hele i mua—onward
Ho‘okupu—gift
Hu ka momona—so rich and fertile
Hula—dance of Hawai‘i
I uka—to/toward the mountains, inland
Kīpu‘upu‘u—name of a chilly wind and rain at Waimea, Hawai‘i
Kūpuna—elders
Loko i‘a—fishpond
Mālama—care for, preserve, protect, conserve
Mele—song
‘Ohu—mist, fog
Ola—life
‘Ōlelo no‘eau—proverb, wise saying, traditional saying
Pa‘ahoa—Rain associated with pu‘u Ka‘ala of Waimea Hawai‘i
Uhi—covering
Aia i hea ka wai a Kāne?—Where is the waters of Kāne?
Ka wai ola a Kāne—the living waters of Kāne
Ola no ka wai ‘olu, ka wai anu o Waikoloa—Living indeed are the refreshing, cool waters of Waikoloa
Wahi pana—storied, legendary and honored place/landscape
Hawaiian plant names
Lehua—The flower of the ‘ōhi‘a tree (Metrosideros macropus)
‘Ōhelo—A small native shrub, (Vaccinium reticulatum), in the cranberry family
‘Ōlapa—several native species and varieties of forest trees (Cheirodendron)
Uluhe—All Hawaiian species of staghorn fern
Glossary of Places on Hawai‘i Island
Mauna Loa—Long mountain
Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a—Furrowed hill
Waikoloa—Stream of Waimea
