Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 1, 1 January 1989 — poems from the heart [ARTICLE]

poems from the heart

Wai'anae Poet Shares Personal Vision of Hawai /

Les Awana of Wai'anae says he is "an ordinary guy." He and his wife have four children, ages 8 to 13, and he works for the Lualualei Naval base in Wai'anae, where they live. Yet he is a special person too, who has adopted the ancient art form of poetry as his own to express his thoughts and feelings as "a native Hawaiian, an ordinary guy." His poems are original and eome from his heart and the way he looks at life — its ups and downs, joys and the sorrows, fears and hopes, memories and aspirations. Awana modestly jokes about his art, "The reason 1 started writing poems, I guess was because of the wandering and faraway look people gave me everytime I opened my mouth." "On the other hand, it could have been because of the many times that 1 have gone through painful depressions figuring out ways not to starve, and how to meet the needs of my family." Awana works on the naval base for Vitro Services Corp. as an inventory stock selector clerk. Work and family are recurrent themes in Awana's poetry, reflecting the constant struggle to provide a living for his family. He has worked at many occupations, but notes wryly, "My only excuse for not excelling in one particular career would be that I must live my name Awana, always on the go (from 'auana, 'to wander')." Wai'anae's little-known poet, Leslie A.C. Awana, was born 37 years ago in Aiea, near the present Sears department store at Pearlridge shopping mall. He was raised by his mother's parents and took her maiden name. He adds, "Maybe I will not have mueh recognition, but I hope that by writing what I feel, others will recognize the same spirit in themselves too. . .Iamnotho'okanoaboutsharingmymana'o through these writings." More than just penning his daily thoughts, Awana in his poetry reflects a growing awareness among Hawaiians of the need for change in Hawaiian affairs today. He says, "I have in the past accepted the fact that Hawaiians as a whole must accept what has happened to them. 1 guess most of the young generation my age has lived this way, 'going with the flow.'" "Since attending Ho'olokahi, I feel a need to belong and. . .to look for an answer in getting our people in tune to their positive, bright future — not only for today but for tomorrow as well." Since Awana writes from his own experience, he is forthright and down-to-earth about his personal goals. "My goals are to elevate the standard of living for my family and myself, and also after

reaching that level to be able to help uplift my fellow native Hawaiians and minority poor to a higher eeonomie horizon." Yet his poems aiso confront his fears and frustrations and reveal his search for a spiritual vision to upbuild the Hawaiian people. As Awana continues to write and hone his style, he has copyrighted his poems and it is his dream to some day publish his collected writings. Many have simple themes with strong images, lyrical rhythms and tonalities. They reflect on the gift of life and how our life stories are what we create. In his poems, death is viewed as a "knife" that cuts short what little joy earthly life may bring. It is also seen as an occasion for patience and hope, a time for remembering the love and warmth of a beloved parent, and a time of spiritual rebirth and peaee at last. In other poems he takes on an upbeat, humorous, joyful, and exuberant tone. In poems devoted to Makaha, he praises its majestic scenery, compares it to lovers, yet frets over the changes in lifestyle, "Think of your children and your old ones! Turn from unpleasant ways." Awana's strongest feelings seem to emerge in

poems whieh deal with his sense of Hawaiian identity. In "Spirit of Belonging," © 1987, he wrestles with disappointment in life, how youthful hope has faded with the realities of adult life: ". . .Some people say, 'This is the Year of the Hawaiian.' Well, I'm Hawaiian. Tell me, why don't I feel this is my year?. . .Some say, 'Look to the past,' and some say 'Look to the future.' I say, 'What about now?"' In "The Call From The Past," he evokes the spirit of the kupuna in a eall to the 'opio today to unite in change, to apply knowledge of western ways to help the people to regain the land, a home. He calls for wise leaders to eome forth and speak out against injustice. He delivers a reminder to those who benefit from the spirit of aloha to correct past mistakes, and to remember their responsibility to care for the heritage of Hawai'i, and the Hawaiian 'ohana. The kupuna leaves with a final message to the 'opio, "Remember, unless you stand up and be counted for this land, and be faithful and true we will not accomplish our task at hand. So be true 'till the end and you will see the final victory."