Kamanawa‘iolani

Kamanawa‘iolani

As we walked to the tallest point of the mountain to fly the flag of our people as close as we could get to the sky with are feet still on the earth, I looked over at you and felt your kūpuna celebrating. I could see the way the matriarchs of your lineage have raised you in how you knew stood firmly and held onto the pahu hae no matter how hard the wind blew. I saw the depth of your mothers love and immensity of her pride as she stood behind you and supported you as you took your rightful place amongst generations of aloha ‘āina.

I watched as you made your offerings to the ahu with the kind of reverence that comes from the ancestral wisdom you carry in your cells. You walked by yourself to the edge of the pu‘u and offered your oli to the sacred.

Tears welled in my eyes because I knew this moment was a rite of passage for you. As you grow into a young man, I hope that carry this memory with you to always remind you how loved you are and how much this next generation will thrive because of ‘ōpio like you. I hope that the sound of the pū will always bring you back to your center and that our ‘ōlelo will always keep you grounded to who you are as a kānaka ‘Ōiwi.

I am proud to be your Aunty and it is one the greatest honors to be a pillar in your life.

Aloha piha makahiki ku‘u Nawa Man🤎

Eia Lā