Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 6, 1 Iune 2004 — Honoring the strengths of our kāne [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Honoring the strengths of our kāne

By Claire Hughes Dr.PH., R.D.

Kano ke hiki po'ohiwi o Honokohau The 'ōlelo selected for this month's eolumn says, "Hard are the shoulder muscles of Honokōhau," describing the firm shoulder muscles of the men from Honokōhau that resulted from hard physical work. In June, we celebrate Father's Day and honor our fathers and grandfathers. Fathers are the providers, protectors and mentors of families, as well as leaders for the emerging generation. Without horses, mules or oxen in old Hawai'i, men hauled tree trunks down mountain slopes to shoreline areas for eanoe or structure building. Moving and lifting rocks for building heiau, fishponds, waterways, farming fences or foundations for buildings was accomplished by the power of men as well. Repetitive digging and lifting in farming used man's muscles. Thus, strong, firm muscles are the inherited potential of Hawaiian men. The ingenuity, skills and brilliance of kāne of past generations are evident in innumerable ways. Skilled engineering went into creating waterways for lo'i kalo. Huge stone structures, walls and fishponds were built without the use of mortar. Cultivation and development of hundreds of varieties of kalo, 'uala and banana required ingenuity, knowledge and skill. Great intelligence was required to name and categorize plants, animals and fish, as well as to understand and use the celestial rotation patterns of the stars and planets. Naming of the different winds,

rains, seas and nature's other phenomena demonstrated incredible understanding, skill and intelligence. Thus, the inherited mana of kanaka kāne combines physical and mental strengths. Today, thousands of Native Hawaiian kāne are

employed in Hawai'i and on the U.S. continent as professional, white- and blue-collar workers. Native

Hawaiian doctors, lawyers, educators, college professors, ministers, insurance executives, architects, contractors, builders, communication

experts, athletes and government workers are increasing in numbers. Hawaiian men own a myriad of businesses and serve as executives, managers and staff in all types of businesses. Kānaka kāne are successful poliee officers, firefighters, para-

medics and military men of all ranks. Native Hawaiian workers, mechanics, machinists, equipment operators and stevedores are at the core of many industries. Many travel industry representatives, transportation workers and sales representatives are kānaka kāne. Hundreds of kanaka kāne are successful artists, musicians, kumu hula, cultural experts, writers and actors. They are all achieving as

mueh as they do through their inherited mana and hard work.

But despite the positive statistics, hundreds of adolescent kanaka kāne face huae challen2es as thev nro2ress

toward adulthood and achieving their highest potential. Their needs run the gamut from improved family

situations, health care and education to mentoring and employment opportunities that will improve the odds of success for these young kāne. Special recognition and

mahalo go to Hawaiian coaches, counselors, mentors and fathers who are role models for these Hawaiian youth. It is exciting to acknowledge and honor our makuakāne and kupunakāne for achievements over the past decades. If we put our minds to thinking of industri-

ous kānaka kāne role models, there would not be space enough here to name them all. We send mahalo nui to our makuakāne and kupunakāne, as well as our big brothers, uncles, and kāne cousins. We aloha and honor your work and successes in navigating and prevailing over the tremendous social and eulhual transitions and challenges of the last decades and centuries. Happy Father's Day to all makuakāne and kupunakāne! ■

[?]

Ol AKINO

Thanks to the strenous nature of traditional work and arts, physical and mental strength are the inherited mana of Hawaiian kōne.