Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 9, 1 Kepakemapa 2009 — Raising kanaka maoli keiki [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Raising kanaka maoli keiki

Avital role for parents and kūpuna is teaching children the ways of our kūpuna and lāhui, specifically, the ways of eaeh 'ohana. In the past, kūpuna were extremely careful and patient with teaching the kamali'i the behaviors expected within the lāhui. Some rules of behavior such as kneeling in absolute

silence as ali'i passed, were lifesaving ones. Other rules supported harmonious living and existence among other kanaka. Manners, or laek thereof, reflect directly back upon kūpuna and 'ohana. Several 'Ōlelo No'eau remind us of our responsibility. "Ku no i ke ke'a. E like me ke keke'e o ka lālā lā'au, pela no kona aka," translated by Kawena Pukui, says, "He has the ways of his sire. According to the crookedness of the branch, so is the crookedness of the shadow." Many negative influences in our

keiki's daily lives today make our role more important. Hours of exposure to negative, abusive, even criminal, behavior in the media, must be counterbalanced by 'ohana influence and teaching. Even children's media demonstrate selfishness, vanity and devious, conniving behaviors that

run counter to the ways of old. Bad habits demonstrated by 'ohana members are quickly mimicked and internalized by the keiki as well. Teaching children is best done in the early years when the child is learning from parents and 'ohana the many things about his new environment. Nā mākua, kūpuna and 'ohana must be diligent, or the vital essence of our lāhui will be lost. When discussing this eolumn with a friend, she offered to share this poem that speaks directly to the kuleana of raising kanaka maoli keiki:

MO'OM EHEU - CULTURE KA WAI OLA | ĪHE LIVING WAĪER 0F OHA

By Claire Ku'uleilani Hughes, Dr. PH„ R.D.