I miss the ala today

I miss the ala today
I miss waking up to the sound of the sun rising
I miss breathing in the mountain exhale
I miss opening my tent to the light illuminating her shadows
I miss looking over and seeing the kūpuna gathering their pū and making their way through the mist
I miss the smell of damp lauhala rolled onto frontline ground
I miss the creation story of Aunty Pua’s hands on the pahu
I miss Aunty Kekuhi’s ‘i‘i echoing off of the pali I carry on my back
I miss Kaumakaiwa’s embraces that feel like Halema’uma’u
I miss the lightning in Kauila’s heahea
I miss Tuhi’s kāhea to all realms
I miss my mothers voice calling waves to form
I miss my sisters feet dancing change into the present
I miss my own eyes singing to Kūkahau‘ula skies
I miss seeing kia’i come home to their hearts with every Nā ‘Aumākua and every E iho Ana
I miss coming home to myself in the same way
I miss the aha
The aha binding each pahu
The aha binding each prayer
The aha binding each of us to this commitment to the sacred
I miss this ceremony
I miss the conduct that came with it
The discipline that shaped and continues to shape us all
I want to remember it in the way I live my life
And even now whenever I chant protocol chants, I hear thousands of voices with mine
A kele a kiu
A kele kele a kiu