Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 1, 1 Ianuali 2000 — The allegory of the tide pool. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The allegory of the tide pool.

ON NOV. 18, when Makali'i was seen to rise at sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea, word was immediately sent to the shore at Kaloko and those assembled opened Makahiki. As is our custom, we traverse Kekaha, North Kona, our 'āina aloha, during this season, a time when we are predisposed to festive gatherings and merriment. We enjoyed Kūki'o, our one hānau, uncluttered as it may never be again, given the development proposed and approved and poised to go there. During our time there, the vog distorted the sunlight but good humor provided the missing sparkle. While we nanea by the wai 'ōpae the kumu niu rustled. Holunape,

mai rustnng, īn tne deep night and we saw stars fīxed and shooting and falling. Holunape in the day and the rustling quickened to a clattering with the eoming of the shining naulu. We mused on how different our circumstances were from Kamehameha when the chief uttered "I mua e nā pōki'i a inu i ka wai 'awa'awa." In keeping with the season and our mood, our eonelusion was that our 'ōlelo might be "I mua e nā tita pōki'i a inu i ka wai

'ono'ono." Because of the tigers cruising the open waters, we stayed close to the shore this year. The papa was teeming with life. Honu were seen in places where none of us present could recall seeing them before, at well protected spots away from those cruising tigers. One basked at length, seemingly cast up on the rocks, but like a Chinese war master, it was at rest. It made no unneeessary motion until it was time to return to the sea, notable to

us only in that we looked and it was gone. The weke teemed, veritably 40,000 if 40. So eye-catching and momona but the bad dream anecdote

that mother recounted, about eating those plump, eye-catch-ing fīsh causes us to have eaution where weke are eoncemed. Oblivious to the deep water drama, the po'opa'a gazed from the rock wall, with their bulging eyes, at the goings-on near around them. Their lips seemed to move in constant comment. The kūpīpī darted to and fro, up and down and around. protective of its pōhaku, so intent on holding that stone alone, we could not

but conclude that it was pretty effective at doing just that. But fīnally, it was perhaps pathos that this invoked, because it was after all just a stone coveted by them alone. The ever changeable he'e slipped among the cobbles, yellowish then brownish, on coral then stone. Hard to see, with numbers diffīcult to count, the recently opened pubhc access has taken its toll on those already difficult to discem numbers. We were glad to see that he'e. And finally, the puhi prevailed as puhi are given to doing, the brown on white markings visible as it moved endlessly through endless stony cavities, but when it made a brief open pool crossing between rocks, we saw it to be a handsome yet diminutive beast. The no'ona'a would not

't take their eyes off of him. Going to the brackish ponds before the warmth of the day was gone, we enjoyed the late aftemoon light. Bracing as always, the potent water was a jolt. I did not want to intrude upon the spirit of the moment with distracting thoughtfulness of pa'ahana so I determined to retum later to the thought that crossed my mind. A reference from the Executive Summarv of the WASC

Accreditation visit to the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (March 15-19) had eome to mind yet again, "As board members they must finally rise above their geographically parochial desires and intentions and act as one board of the good of the whole" (page 10). Upon reflection later, that admonishment could be directed at us, the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, a thought as bracing as those sweet yet cold pond waters. ■

A reference from the Executive Summary of the WASC Accreditation visit to the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (March 15-19) had eome to mind yet again, "As board members they must finally rise above their geographically parochial desires and intentions and act as one board of the good of the whole" (page 10). Upon reflection later, that admonishment could be directed at us.

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