‘Aha Kūpa’akalā

‘Aha Kūpa’akalā
Ho‘oilo 2021
Lā ‘Ehā

Today’s writing prompt is to list five people you are grateful for and write about one and tell each person before the end of the year. My mom told me that when she did this assignment years ago she chose someone to write about that would’ve never guessed she would hā’awi mahalo to them in this way. Tonight I choose my Aunty Dina.

Aunty, you wear the crown flower today, just like you did at the Hō‘ike in the valley of our ancestors.

Constant like change
Steady like time
A gentle keeper of compassion
Of tenderness
Of patience
Of love
And of light
She is ‘a‘ali‘i embodied
Roots so deep in the earth
Even the strongest wind wouldn’t try to break her
For the flowers that she carries in her hands and in her heart bloom with every step of grace she takes and every kindness she offers
The pillar of mana always at my mothers side
A woman of prayer
Of ceremony
Of ritual
Of dance
Ever protected by our ancestral guides
She is one of the safest places I have ever known
And for that sacred gift
I offer my words in deep gratitude at my altar of water
Of crystal
Of salt
And of stone

I love you Aunty
May you receive the blessings you give ten fold

📸: @kapzphotography