Aia ka ‘Ike i ka Wāwae (Knowledge Is in the Feet)
| I ka hānau ‘ia ke kamali’i Helu ‘ia nā manamanawāwae Hū! Eia ka pono i ka wāwae, he ola Aia ka ‘ike i ka wāwaeI ka ‘ulu ‘ana ke keiki Kū wale a a’o ka ‘ike I mua ‘ana au, I mua ‘ana au, he ola Aia ka ‘ike i ka wāwae I ke ola ‘ana ka ‘ōpio I ka holoholo ‘ana ka makua I ka lamakū ‘ana ke kupuna I ka moe ‘ana ka ‘elemakule |
As the baby is born The toes are counted Alas, righteousness in the feet, Live Knowledge is in the feetAs the child grows Stands and learns the knowledge Forward I move, forward I move, Live Knowledge is in the feet As the youth lives As the adult journeys As the elder takes a stand As the older one lies down |
A ia ka ‘ike i ka wāwae! ‘O ka wāwae ke kahua o ke kino a ‘o ka wāwae kai kāko’o ho’i i ka holoholo ‘ana. He ho’ailona ho’i ka wāwae i ke ola a na ka wāwae i hō’ike ‘ia ke ala kūpono i holoholo ‘ana. I ka wā kamali’i, ‘ike ho’i ke kupuna i ka pono o ka wāwae a i ka wā keiki, kū wale a holo mua ka wāwae, aia ka ‘ike i laila. I ka wā ‘ōpio, huli wale ke ala pono o ke ola a I ka wā mākua, lalau ho’i ka wāwae. I ka wā lamakū, ‘imi ho’i kahi punahele ona a I ka ‘elemakule, ‘ike ka wāwae i ka pau ‘ana o ka huaka’i a ho’i! Aia ka ‘ike i ka wāwae!
Knowledge is in the feet! The feet are the foundation of the body and the feet support the journey. The feet have lots of significant signs of life and it is the feet that present the righteous journey. As a baby, the elders visualize the righteousness of the feet and as a child, the movement is to stand and move forward, knowledge is there. As a youth, one must seek the rightful path of life, and as a parent one wanders throughout life. As a light of knowledge, one must seek the favorite one and as the old person, the feet realize the end of the journey and return. Knowledge is in the feet!
We seek to understand what is our path in life and truly our feet give us the best knowledge, known from the day we are born until we are transformed forever. Our feet are the insights to our journey, we are led by the direction they face daily, forward! Use the strongest foundation we have and move forward, for knowledge is in the feet.
Inspired by the men in my life, always speaking indirectly of the journey I must take—my father expressed these words in his own way. I love you, Dad! David Ching Jr., my father!
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.
