Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 11, 1 November 2022 — Hānai i ka Mauli Ola Hawai'i [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hānai i ka Mauli Ola Hawai'i

V HE LEO HOU V ^ A NEW VOICE *

Na 'ūnohi Paeheeo, Papa 12 Ke Kula 'ū Nāwahīokalani'ōpu'u

CA uhea 'oukou e ka po'e /% 'imi na'auao o ka pae / — % 'āina 'o Hawai'i! 'O X .^L'oukou ho'i nā hoa paio e kūpale like ana i ko kākou mo'omeheu Hawai'i. E kūpale ana i ko kākou mauli ola Hawai'i. 'O wau nō 'o 'Ōnohi Paeheeo e noho ana ma ka aina ho'opulapula 'o Keaukaha ma Hilo, Hawai'i. He pua ha'aheo nō au o ka papa 'umikūmālua ma Ke Kula 'O Nāwahīokalaniopu'u. Ua hiki mai ka wā ma ko'u ola i 'ike 'oia'i'o ai i kēia ha'awina waiwai, 'o ia ho'i, "He wā ko nā mea a pau ". Ua hō'ea ka wā e hō'oia'i'o a ho'oholo mua ai i nā pahuhopu no ka'u mau hana ma hope o ka puka 'ana mai ke kula ki'eki'e. Mai ka wā opua li'ili'i ma ka papa mālaa'o a i kēia manawā 'ānō, ua ho'omākaukau 'ia ke kahua o ka 'ike no kēia wā. Ua huliāmahi like nā kumu a me ka'u 'ohana, i hik ia'u ke ka'ana i ko'u leo a'oa'o me 'oukou i kēia manawa. He 'i'ini ko'u e puka i waho o Hawai'i, a 'imi hou aku i ka 'ike. Ke ha'alele kākou iā Hawai'i, pono e nīnau iā kākou iho i kēia: He aha ana kā kākou e hana ai no ka ho'omau aku i ka hānai 'ana i ko kākou mauli ola Hawai'i? He aha ka hopena inā 'a'ole ho'omau i ka 'ike Hawai'i? Ko'iko'i kēia mau nīnau, no ka mea, inā 'a'ole kākou 'imi i mau ala e ho'omau aku ai i ka 'ike ku'una Hawai'i, 'a'ohe ola. Ua hana nui nā kūpuna a me nā kumu no ka ho ola a ho'omau i ka 'ike Hawai'i i hiki iā kākou a pau ke ho'omau i ka ho'oili aku i ia 'ike. Inā 'a'ole kākou koho i ka ho'omau aku, ua make hewa kā lākou hana. Inā 'a'ole

kākou ho'ohana i kēia 'ike i ho'okahua 'ia, e nalowale ana. Ko'iko'i ko kākou mālama mau 'ana i ko kākou mauli ola Hawai'i, ma loko nō o ka ha'alele 'ana iā Hawai'i, i hiki ke pa'a mau ka pilina i nā kūpuna a me ka aina. 'A'ole makemake e poina 'ia nā ha'awina a pau i a'o 'ia iā kākou. No laila e nā hoa, he leo paipai kēia iā kākou, e no'ono'o, "He aha ana kā kākou e hana ai no ka ho'omau aku i ko kākou mauli ola Hawai'i?" English Translation To those continuing the pursuit of knowledge. To my fellow warriors standing strong and protecting Hawaiian culture. My name is 'Ōnohi Paeheeo and I live on the Hawaiian Homelands of Keaukaha, Hilo, Hawai'i. I am a student and current senior at Ke Kula 'O Nāwahīokalani'ōpu'u. In these final months of my senior year in high school, I understand the meaning of "there is a time for everything." I have reached a point in my education where I am considering my plans for life after graduating high school. From kindergarten to this very moment in time, my foundation of Hawaiian language and culture continues to be nurtured. My teachers and family have worked together, so that I ean share my voice with my community. After I graduate from high school, I want to continue on my journey and travel the world. Our ancestors worked hard to prepare and build our foundation of knowledge. We do not want it to be lost over time. In order to eontinue on this path, I remind myself of the importance of taking care of and perpetuating our Hawaiian language and culture. I strongly encourage everyone to truly consider this question: What ean we do to continue to feed and grow the Hawaiian within us? ■