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Welina,
I just received your e-mail.
Pleased to receive it, I am replying to it here on this Web page
with pictures:
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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...
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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/
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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.
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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! |
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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.
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Aunty Edith Kanaka`ole |
Pualani Kanaka`ole
Kanahele |
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. |
"May
the Hawaiian language live on!" |
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>>
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!
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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
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"The
only gift is a portion of thyself."
~
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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