‘O Poli‘ahu i ke Kapu Part 2

I can still remember when the snow fell six years ago. My sister, Uncle Kalani, and I went up to the summit to give offerings. When we got to the Northern Plateau, I felt so deeply moved to lift oli to the land. I wrapped myself in my regalia and chanted. My hands went out to my side and hovered over the proposed TMT site as we did Pule ‘Āina. Uncle Kalani captured the moment.

Poli‘ahu has come to protect the Mauna and all of us over and over again throughout this movement. She draped her snow mantle for a long time in 2015 when construction was going to commence making it impossible to break ground. She arrived countless times right when we were heading into contested cases and before and after BLNR hearings. And just this past winter while we were on the frontlines she graced the slopes we love restoring so much hope as courage in all of us.

The way she has loves us and reassures us brings soft tears to my eyes. This love is why I started to write music and why I will always sing about her, the Mauna, and the movement.

‘O Poli‘ahu i ke Kapu
Eō mai ‘oe