Synopsis: A short story about a trip to Kaho’olawe to observe the winter solstice. Learning to appreciate and understand the importance of the sun and all aspects of life.

Aloha kākou e nā hoa Aloha ‘Āina mai ka lā hiki a ka lā kau. I kēlā lā kēia lā, ‘ike ‘ia ka lā e holo ana ma luna a’e o kākou. ‘O Kānehoalani kekahi o kona mau inoa. Holo ‘o Kānehoalani ma ka lewa lani mai ka hikina a i ke komohana, a mai ke Ao Polohiwa a Kanaloa a i ka Piko o Wākea a hiki aku i ke Ao Polohiwa a Kāne, a ho’i mai. Ma muli o kēia huaka’i kaulana a Kānehoalani i haku ‘ia ai ko kākou ‘alemanaka no ka makahiki Hawai’i. He hōkū waiwai a kaulana ka lā no kākou po’e kānaka.

‘O Piko o Wākea ka inoa o ka equator, a holo ‘o ia ma waenakonu mai o ka hikina a i ke komohana o ka Honua. Aia ke Ao Polohiwa a Kanaloa i ka hema loa o ka huaka’i a ka lā, he 23.5 kekelē mai ka hema mai o ka Piko o Wākea. A no laila, ke holo ka lā i ka hema o ka Piko o Wākea, lilo ka lā ‘o ia ka lā o Kanaloa. Aia ke Ao Polohiwa a Kāne ma ka ‘ākau loa o ka huaka’i a ka lā, he 23.5 kekelē ma ka ‘ākau mai o ka Piko o Wākea. No laila, ke holo ka lā i ka ‘ākau o ka Piko o Wākea, lilo ka lā ‘o ia ka lā o Kāne. Akā, ke holo ka lā ma ka Piko o Wākea, lilo ka lā ‘o ia ka lā o Kāneloa, ‘oiai e ka’ana like ana ka lā i ka lewa me nā akua ‘elua.

I ka pule aku nei, huaka’i akula he ‘ēiwa po’e o ka Protect Kaho’olawe ‘Ohana a ho’i i Kanaloa, ‘o ia ka inoa kahiko o Kaho’olawe. Me ka pahuhopu e kilo aku iā Kānehoalani ma kona puka ‘ana a i kona napo’o ‘ana ma ke Ao Polohiwa a Kanaloa. Ua kilo lani kekahi o mākou mai ‘ekolu wahi ‘oko’a mai o Kanaloa. ‘O Moa’ulaiki ka mua, ‘o Pu’u Mōiwi ka lua, a ‘o ka pōhaku i kapa ‘ia ‘o Kāneloa ma ke Awāwa ‘o Kāneloa ke kolu.

‘O ka mua kēia ‘o ko’u huaka’i ‘ana i Kanaloa me ka mana’o nui e kilo lani i ka lā. Ua a’o ‘ia mākou i ka waiwai o ke kilo lani, a i ka pono o ka ho’oikaika ‘ana i ko kākou pilina me nā mea a pau o ka honua a me ka lewa. A he wahi kūpono ‘o Kanaloa no kēia mau hana, ‘oiai he wahi ho’omana ‘ia ka mokupuni holo’oko’a.

I lawa nō a hō’ea mākou ma Kanaloa, puni maila mākou i nā hō’ailona like ‘ole. Ua ‘ike ‘ia nā ao panopano o Lono, lohe ‘ia ka hekili, a ‘ike ‘ia ka uila. ‘O kekahi, he uila poni. Ua helele’i nā ua loku o Lono, a pā maila nō ho’i kona mau makani, a ua puni kekahi o mākou i ka noenoe hālau, ka hālau loa o Lono. Ua ‘ike ‘ia nā kinolau like ‘ole o Kanaloa, a ua lele a lu’u nā nai’a, a puka maila nā koholā. Hele a kūhohonu ko mākou no’ono’o.

Ua lehulehu a manomano ka ‘ikena a ka Hawai’i. Ho’omaka a’ela mākou e no’ono’o ma ke ‘ano o ko mākou po’e kūpuna. Aia nō a ‘ōlelo Hawai’i a hana i nā loina Hawai’i ma nā ‘āina kaulana o ko kākou mau kūpuna, e pae aku ka wa’a ma kahi kokoke iā lākou.

Makemake au e ho’ouna i kahi hali’a aloha no ko’u makuahine kamaha’o ‘o Lilinoe Kealoha Wong. Nāna nō i hānai a alaka’i pono iā mākou. Aloha au iā ‘oe e ku’u makuahine.

E ho’ouna ‘ia mai nā leka iā māua, ‘o ia ho’i ‘o Laiana Wong a me Kekeha Solis ma ka pahu leka uila ma lalo nei:
» kwong@hawaii.edu
» rsolis@hawaii.edu
a i ‘ole ia, ma ke kelepona:
» 956-2627 (Laiana)
» 956-2624 (Kekeha)
This column is coordinated by the Hawaiian Language Department at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, supported by the Initiative for Achieving Native Hawaiian Academic Excellence.