Ka Wehena: Kawahinela‘iokekapu
Na Kumu Keala Ching
| ‘Ae, Kawahinela‘iokekapu
He wahine la‘i o ke kapu He wahine la‘i o ke kapu He kāne u‘i ke nānā akula I pō māhealani, kū ‘o Kaupo‘ohiwi I ka pō‘ele‘ele o ka pō kapu Pūana Kawahinela‘iokekapu He mele nō ‘o Hualālai |
Sacred woman of Hualālai
Indeed a sacred peaceful woman Indeed a sacred peaceful woman An amazing handsome man, admired always On the fullest moon, stands Kaupo‘ohiwi Upon the darkest night, sacred night It is said, a sacred woman of Hualālai Indeed a song honoring Hualālai |
He lei hīhīwai kau po‘ohiwi e Kawahinela‘iokekapu. Eō mai e Hualālai, ka wahine aloha iā Hawai‘iloa.
A precious lei upon the bosom of Kawahainela‘iokekapu. Rejoice Hualālai, loveable woman of Hawai‘iloa.
Celebrating 15 years of Hula—Ka Pā Hula Nā Wai Iwi Ola, Kumu Keala Ching
Kawahinela‘iokekapu
Kawahinela‘iokekapu, a sacred woman of Hualālai, was written inspired by several different stories shared by Kupuna Eleanor Makita.
A beautiful woman resided upon the mountain, later to be called Hualālai.
So beautiful that no one was allowed to see her beauty, she was guarded and cared for by retainers.
Kawahinela‘iokekapu, is a sacred woman, a mo‘owahine (lizard woman), or a caretaker of a pond upon Hualālai, she seeks a companion of the lower lands. Upon the tears, a stream, she sends a garland (lei) of mountain snail(s) seaward.
At the shoreline of Honokōhau, Kaupo‘ohiwi, a handsome man, finds this beautiful garland (lei) of love and places it upon his shoulders. Encouraged to find the creator of this lei, he journeyed upland to Hualālai.
As he stands upon the water’s edge, Kawahinela‘iokekapu, with joy upon her heart, sings upon the beautiful ‘Ōpua clouds capturing the emotions of Kaupo‘ohiwi.
Upon the most sacred night, Pō Kāne, Kawahinela‘iokekapu leaves her pond in search of Kaupo‘ohiwi on the shores of Honokōhau. As she reaches his dwelling, she sings a familiar song to Kaupo‘ohiwi. He turns and both Kawahinela‘iokekapu and Kaupo‘ohiwi are face-to-face with similar lei hīhīwai of Hualālai.
A mist carries both of them to the waters edge of Kawahinela‘iokekapu upon the slopes of Hualālai, there Kawahinela‘iokekapu returns as the sacred mo‘owahine of the pond and Kaupo‘ohiwi turns into the enlightened Kukui tree. Forever and ever together upon the slopes of Hualālai and the leis both of them wear are the ‘Ōpua clouds always surrounding Hualālai.
Eō Kawahinela‘iokekapu!
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.
