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Naturally Hawaiian: Nâ Pueo (Hawaiian Owls), 
courtesy of The Artistry of Patrick Ching

Birds of a Feather Flock Together: Ka `Olelo Hawai`i
September 1, 2003

Welina,

I just received your e-mail. Pleased to receive it, I am replying to it here on this Web page with pictures:

Aloha nô e `Anakê D (Aunty D),
 
Just wanted to say that it was so nice to finally meet you last weekend after all this time. Really enjoyed talking, sorry we didn't have more time... I'm sure we'll run into each other again at Shannon, or other places... Again, feel free to drop in on my class anytime you want...I know it's a bit elementary, but I think most haumâna would agree, what they get the most out of the class is an appreciation for the Hawaiian culture as opposed to learning to speak. Your input and insights there would be a real treat...
 
Keep up the good work with your website, it's awesome -- God knows I've gotten a ton of inspiration from it.
 
Mâlama pono -- A hui hou,
AI
 
BTW, were you the one that videotaped the workshop? How did that turn out? Hopefully you could hear my voice...

 

Ke Kumu Aaron, teaching at Whittier College's `ôlelo Hawai`i workshop

That certainly was a full afternoon and evening of workshops, lû`au fundraiser, and The Next Generation concert over at The Shannon!  

I thoroughly enjoyed your `ôlelo Hawai`i (Hawaiian language) workshop, and even more, putting a face to a name that I have known for a number of years as a fellow `ôlelo perpetuator.  

Hô`âuna pû nâ manu o he hulu.
Birds of a feather flock together.

When I recommended you to the Whittier folks, they must have acted promptly, as you were well-prepared in spite of the short notice.  Your handout is excellent!  I especially appreciated your segment on the meaning of Aloha with Pîlahi Pakî's own words in essay form and the playing of Moe Keale's song, ALOHA IS... 

This summer, I was led (compelled?) to create a tribute site for Moe, and, as you will see when you take a look at the site, your choice was meaningfully synchronistic: http://oocities.com/moekeale2020/ 

Moe Keale

Yes, that was me who asked for permission to videotape.  My husband and I wanted to take more than one class; `ôlelo and hula for me and slack key guitar and `ôlelo for him.  The next day, the video footage allowed him to "attend" your class.  The camera has a sensitive microphone and picked up every word's pronunciation. He too enjoyed your teaching.  Review of the basics is always a good thing and regrooves those memory tracks.

Since our `ôlelo classes at University of Hawai`i, Manoa in 1996, we have had only precious few opportunities to converse with others in Hawaiian.  We persist, nevertheless, even if we often end up just speaking it with one another.  And of course, listening to Hawaiian music is an effective, albeit subliminal, method of learning Hawaiian.



As do your students, we seek out the `ôlelo for the cultural enrichment that it brings. This past weekend, we attended the E HULA MAU hula competition in Long Beach, our yearly and much anticipated "weekend immersion" in the Hawaiian culture. I soak it all in, particularly enjoying the hula, chant and Hawaiian music, with overflowing Mahalo in my heart.

E Hula Mau, Long Beach, CA, Labor Day Weekend

Because of our `ôlelo exposure, our appreciation of the hula is deeper and infinitely more spiritual.  Every year, I am reinspired to keep learning and sharing it with others of like-mind and -heart. 

To get to the nuances of the mele and their meanings, I clearly recognize the need to ho`omau (continue) and become more ma`a (solid, experienced) with the `olelo.  

It's "The more I learn, the less I know" kinda thang. Or, "True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing."

Except for the frigid temperatures (why they do this, I don't know!) of the theater, I love everything about E Hula Mau: 

the hula, the Hawai`i families as well as those that embrace the Hawaiian way, the keiki (kids), the Aloha Spirit, the flowers, the food, the arts and crafts, the shopping, the music, the chant, and the `ôlelo. 

Such an all-out celebration of all things Hawaiian!

A lovely keikimahine, whose hâlau is now award-winning...

Lopaka's CD

Kaumakaiwa “Lopaka” Kanaka`ole's 
Ha`i Kupuna CD 

>> Wayne Harada's review

Our big `ôlelo makana (gift) was Lopaka Kanaka`ole of Moku Hawai`i, who performed at the bash after the competition. Impressive is an understatement for this young man's performance. He sings with full presence -- the presence of all of his ancestors, that is.  And with his own uniquely refreshing, youthful and lively persona. 

This is a young man who is much loved, and it shows in his buoyant personality.  

He radiates a joyfulness that is most appealing.  

>> E Hula Mau:  Mahalo Bash: Lopaka

This Hawaiian word describes him as no English word can:

Âiwaiwa.  Inexplicable. Mysterious. Marvelous. Amazing. Fantastic.  Fathomless. Wonderful because of divinity.  Wonderfully proficient or skillful.  

Take a listen to this 20 year old's phenomenal talent: http://www.mele.com/v3/info/2700.htm 

As recently as 2001, he was known as Lopaka Santiago when he first burst onto the singing scene as the grand prize winner at Kindy Sproat's falsetto contest. More recently, as Kekuhi Kanahele (Frias)'s hiapo (first-born) who takes the responsibilities and obligations of his destiny seriously, Lopaka has adopted the last name, Kanaka`ole, the much esteemed name of his culturally illustrious matrilineal line which includes Aunty Edith Kanaka`ole, his tutu nui, and Pualani Kanaka`ole Kanahele, his tutu. 

Aunty Edith

Aunty Edith Kanaka`ole

Aunty Pua

Pualani Kanaka`ole Kanahele

Kekuhi

Kekuhi Kanahele - Frias

Lopaka generously shared the values that he was raised with, among them, his respect for his elders and ancestors, as well as his love of the `âina (the environs) and kinolau (kindred spirits).  He often lapsed into the `ôlelo , speaking it beautifully and with a fluency that I can only admire and aspire to -- in my dreams!   

 His is a talent that is to be reckoned with -- he sings, he dances, he chants, he speaks and writes  the `ôlelo, and lives as a contemporary Hawaiian, steeped in and respectful of the traditions of his Hawaiian culture.   We have never seen the likes of him, except for glimpses of his "Uncle" -- as he calls him --  Keali`i Reichel, his mother and grandmother, as well as the gentle Aloha that characterized his great-grandmother, who passed on before he was born.  

A hybrid vigor.   More on Lopaka can be found here (Lee Cataluna's article).


Mahalo for your kind invitation. Most weekends, we are away up in the local mountains, but Hawaiian and `ohana
(family) events sometimes keep us in town. So, yes, and when we do, we'll take you up on your invitation and pop in your Saturday papa `olelo (language class)

Also, your kind words about the Web site are much appreciated. 
The message and the "ha" or inspiration came directly from my kûpuna; I was merely the messenger. So I humbly accept your Mahalo for all of us -- mâkou

As is Lopaka's mele, the hawaiianlanguage.com site is a collaborative work by my kûpuna (ancestors) who, when kanawa pono -- the time was right --  made their presence known and willed it into being.  With the Web site, they created the puka (portal) for others to enter into the knowledge of the Hawaiian language.  It is especially gratifying to learn that folks like you who actually teach it also gain inspiration from it. 

Attending to the questions that the site generates could be a full-time job. One day, when I retire from my day job, I will be able to give back more. Until then, the lessons there and the sporadic replies, as time permits, must suffice.

So powerful is the `olelo, that there are now those with Hawaiian ancestral roots who faithfully studied the Web site, heeded their callings, and left the mainland to then study the `ôlelo full-time in Hawai`i.  

E ola mau

"May the Hawaiian language live on!"

Ke kumu Aaron at the lû`au.

>> Ke Kumu Aaron

A few have already graduated and now teach in the mother tongue at the immersion schools, as well at UH, Hilo.   

I have no doubt that you too have similarly affected lives in positive ways.  It is I, who wishes to mahalo (thank) you for mâlama-ing (caring for) the language!  

E `ôlelo pono kâkou, e hana me ka `oia `i`o.
 Let us speak at all times with goodness /righteousness, let us work with sincerity. ~Haunani Apoliona

Me ke Aloha,
Aunty D

 

P.S. I read elsewhere on the Web that you are interested in astronomy.  Here's a page right up your alley:  Heavenly Bodies

  "The only gift is a portion of thyself."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

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This web journal was created on a September Morn, 
September 29, 2001
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