Kanaka Thinking: Imperfection and Beauty

Pu'upu'u lei pali i ka 'a'i.

An imperfect lei, beautified by wearing.  Pukui 2765

Even an imperfect lei looks beautiful when worn around the neck.

A lei, lovingly made, should be cherished and worn with pride.  To pick the flowers and foliage, clean them, and then assemble them constitute a labor of love.  Often a lei maker will have the person in mind and the most astounding foliage and flowers will make themselves available in the forest.

Kanaka Thinking: Estranged Friendships

Huli kua na 'ale o ka moana.

The billows of the ocean turn their backs on each other.  Pukui 1142

Said of friends who are not on speaking terms.

Life is much too short to be vengeful and Regret is much too powerful to harbor.  If there is pilikia or a misunderstanding, make it right by talking it over together.  Words unsaid fester.  Express your thoughts, keeping love as your censor.  Listen deeply. Forgive as you are forgiven.

Kanaka Thinking: The Main Post of the House or Family

Ka pouhana.

The main post.   Pukui 1544
The person on whom others depend for leadership, guidance, and help-the mainstay of the family or group.

Every family needs ka pouhana.  My cousin was such a person and the entire family and the in-laws depended on him for advice, counsel, help, and even scolding from time to time.  He was a patient listener who was not one to pounce into one's tirade to give a retort.  If a scolding was due, he was kind and used questions to make the wrongdoer confront the error of the ways and make the confession one that seemed like it was self-initiated.  If listening and talking did no get to the root of the problem, alcohol was a vehicle to clear out all the bullshit and trash, and he could outdrink and outthink anyone.  His youngest son appears to be the one who will be wearing his shoes. 

We mahalo our ka pouhana for keeping our hale and our 'ohana balanced and stable. 

Kanaka Thinking: Journey to Success

Pipi ka wahie, ho'onui ka pulupulu.

If the firewood burns slowly, add more tinder.  Pukui 2659

Keep trying until you succeed.

In these days of instant gratification, waiting two or three seconds for a computer to work seems like a lifetime.  Yet, the value of patience is much needed in this world.  This is a problem for parents to deal with in working with children born in this generation.  "Are we there yet?"  "When are we getting there?"  "It's taking so long!"  "I checked on it a long time ago."  How long is long ago?

Patience leads to appreciation for long awaited results.  Sometimes, we do not know the impact of our efforts until years or decades later.  Working toward success is an ongoing effort with the definition of success not necessarily dependent upon monetary return.

Kanaka Thinking: Good Works

O ka pono ke hana 'iaa iho mai na lani.

Continue to do good until the heavens come down to you.  Pukui #2437

Blessings come to those who persist in doing good.

There is a difference between doing good and doing well.  To do good means to contribute something positive to those around you.  To do well is to achieve some kind of standard of excellence which may or may not be a positive contribution to others.

Thinking good thoughts.  Doing good works.  Sharing good mana'o.  All of these actions are part of the living good commitment to create a positive impact in life.

Kanaka Thinking: Man as a Steward of the Land

He Ali'i ka 'aina; he kauwa ke kanaka.

The land is a chief; man is its servant. Pukui 531

Land has no need for man, but man needs the land and works it for a livelihood.

It seems as though we have forgotten our responsibility to the land, the ocean, and the sky. Much of our concentration is on technology and we are forgetting the foundation upon which our lives are built. Getting a close understanding of our relationship between the land, the ocean, and the sky is important in building a lifestyle which can be sustained unto itself.

For many of our children, food comes in plastic bags or is placed on foam trays wrapped with plastic wrap. Ask a teenager to kill and clean a chicken and I can almost guarantee that that youngster would have a quizzical look on his or her face. Ask that youngster's mom to take on the task and most mothers who are in their 30s or 40s would not know how to kill and clean a chicken either.

Relying on growing, gathering, or raising our own food is not a step backwards. Rather, it is a step into the future to protect food sources for our families.

Kanaka Thinking: Thorough Education begins with the Little Things

E kuhikuhi pono i na au iki a me na au nui o ka 'ike.

Instruct well in the little and large currents of knowledge.  Pukui 325

In teaching, do it well; the small details are as important as the large ones.

'Ulu - breadfruit,.  Ulu also a word that means to grow, increase,

spread, protect.  

When going to visit a school to see how good it is, check out the little things that compose the campus. Are the campus grounds clean, beautiful, and well cared for?  Do you see teachers, administrators, or students picking up litter and putting it in the trash cans?  As you walk by, do people smile at you?

These are the little things that tell you that people take pride in their school.  If the campus is neat and clean, you know that the maintenance staff is working hard to present a beautiful, safe, and clean environment for the students.  If the teachers know that this is true, they try to keep their rooms neat and clean to avoid the scowls of the room cleaner if the room is messy and dirty.  If the rooms are neat and organized, you can guess that the teacher is working hard to present lessons that are orderly and well planned.  Well executed lessons make for engaged students.  Thus if you are a stranger and students smile, they may not necessarily be smiling only at you but also at their state of affairs.

Pay attention to the little things that contribute to the big picture.