Aia lā ‘o Pele i Hawai‘i Ke ha‘a mai lā i Maukele

Aia lā ‘o Pele i Hawai‘i
Ke ha‘a mai lā i Maukele

Kau ka hali‘a i ku‘u manawa - memories flow and churn in the depths on my core as I recall the ceremonies my mother has guided me in at the Lua Pele throughout my lifetime. Remembering this moment so vividly this morning. I can still feel the way my feet met the earth over and over again as I danced my offerings to her living creation story. I can still feel the rain upon my skin and the weight of water on my pā‘ū. I can still hear my mothers voice rise on the wind and the beat of her ipu syncing to the beat of my very heart. I can still remember the way the mist of Uēkahuna left constellations of dew drops on our hair.

Tears fill my eyes as deep gratitude wells in my heart for the way my mother chose to raise my sister and I in sacred relationship to our ancestral deities. I am grateful for all of the pule, oli, and hula she continues to raise us with as living and evolving practices of our culture.

I love you like I love Halema‘uma‘u, Mom, @puacase.

‘Eli‘eli Kau Mai