Kanaka Thinking: Cling Fiercely to Love

Kama 'ia ke aloha a pa'a i loko.

Bind love that it may remain fast within.  Pukui 1452.
Be a person who knows love.

Love takes work.  If you find love, bind it, nurture it, grow it...so that it remain steadfast within.
Love between people takes work.  We are all with our imperfections and loving fiercely means looking beyond the minor faults and flaws and loving each other as a wholistic entity.  Love is a two way street...as you share love, love is shared with you.

Those who think they "deserve" love will never get what they think they should get.  It is because too much time is focused on what THEY want rather than what OTHERS need.  The more love you give, the more love you receive.  Love can be demonstrated through a smile, a look of empathy, a kind word, a deed done, a time to listen, and sometimes even a tear.

Loving others takes a conscious effort.  Work hard at being a loving person.  It begins with the little things.

Kanaka Thinking: Judge Not

Keke'e ka waha, ua nahu i ka makani.
His mouth is wry (distorted) after biting the wind.  Puku'i 1745
Said of one who has found that what he said of others is true of himself.

How easy it is to judge others and yet how difficult it is to see the same fault in ourselves. 

I often wonder why it is so easy to "talk stink" about people.  More people seem to enjoy this pastime and the amount of chatter seems to be disproportionately greater.  Why is it so difficult to use words to recognize people, to cherish people, to thank people?  We should be doing this more often before we find that we end up talking to ourselves.

Say the words of love and encouragement and whisper them into the universe of understanding.

Kanaka Thinking: Oneness of Thought and Action

Pupukahi i holomua.
Unite in order to progress.  Puku'i 2758

Diversity is wonderful but when it is time for the progress of a people, oneness of thought and action is necessary to create the kind of momentum needed to affect true  and positive change.

Ho'oulu i keia mana'o.

Oneness begins with the family.  The love and admiration between the father and mother demonstrated daily in the home.  Then the love and respect of the children for their parents and vice versa.  The love between siblings becomes the glue for the next generation.

One family at a time.  Conscious and deliberate effort begins at home and spreads outward.

Kanaka Thinking: Blessings

Kahiko o ke akua.

The adornment of the gods.  A shower of rain.  The gods express their approval with rain.
Pukui #1310

How fortunate we are to live on the east side of Hawai'i where rain is so plentiful.  We are surely blessed.

Kanaka Thinking: Contentment

E 'olu'olu i ka mea i loa'a.

Be contented with what one has.  'Olelo No'eau #367

 

Even beautiful flowers have flaw and bugs crawling in them.  Be grateful for what you have.  Don't worry about the past...it is gone and no amount of worrying will change that fact.  Don't worry about the future...it is beyond our power to control.  It is better to live in today.  To enjoy it.  To be thankful.  To smile and laugh.  To do what you can.  You may never see today again so live it!

Kanaka Thinking: Hula and the Merrie Monarch Festival

'A'a i ka hula, waiho ka hilahila i ka hale.

When one wants to dance the hula, bashfulness should be left at home.  'Olelo No'eau #2

I am always impressed by people who are willing to stand up in public and spontaneously begin to dance the hula.  Although I have been a hula student since elementary school, I am quite hesitant to get up and dance.  Do I remember the moves?  What if I mess up? 

Such a focus on technique can be a hindrance to spontaneous dancing.  Rather, the driving spirit should be the message of the song, the beat, the sway, and the smile.  While one should do the hula kumu proud by remembering all the hand and feet movements, there are times when one should just dance to share the beauty of the song.  And if there is a memory lapse, make it up and carry on.

E hula kakou.

Kanaka Thinking: Gratitude to our Kupuna

I ulu no ka lala i ke kumu.
The branches grow because of the trunk.  Pukui 1261

Without our ancestors, we would not be here.

In our gadabout lives, we often forget about the trials and tribulations of our ancestors.  If we think we have it tough, let's try to re-imagine our lives without electricity, household appliances, flush toilets and indoor plumbing, automobiles, and supermarkets!!  Yet our kupuna had and raised their families, persevered, survived, and perhaps even flourised.

I wonder how our progeny will see our lives today.  Would this period be considered the "good ole days?"  One way to make it a period of fond remembrance is to work hard to create memories in our children and grandchildren.  Family adventures, good food, good conversation, and time make for lasting positive memories.