Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 40, Number 11, 1 November 2023 — A Reminder of What ”Aloha” Looks Like [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Reminder of What ”Aloha” Looks Like

V LAMAKU HO'OKIPA V ^ A BEACON OF HOSPITALITY "

NaHHA woulel like to share afeaturefrom one ofour Lamakū Ho'okipa, our Beacons of Hospitality who are making a positive impact through the value of mālama and as a contributing member ofthe Native Hawaiian community. By Kaleiopuaonālani 'Uwēko'olani 'O ka pono ke hana 'ia a iho mai nā lani. Continue to do good until the heavens eome down to you. - 'Ōlelo No'eau #2437 Every time I look at my wrist, there she is - my mother. An inscription written on a solid pieee of gold. A pieee of gold that serves as my daily reminder to continue to do good until the heavens eome down. My mother, so lovingly called 'Aunty Susie," wasn't ffom my one hānau (birth plaee). She didn't have koko Hawai'i (Hawaiian blood). Nor did she have any idea that she would lead people to understand what aloha meant. Originally ffom Victoria, B.C., this blonde-haired, green-eyed woman found herself married to a kanaka ffom Pu'unēnē. By the time we lost her 62 years later, she had embraced the culture, the traditions, and the language so mueh so that her aloha was never second-guessed. She had taken the word, the idea, the actions of aloha and had given people one of the greatest gifts....aloha! She was loved by my father, his 'ohana, the community, and many others that were able to see, feel, and reciprocate her aloha. Through the eyes of strangers, she showed reverent love, offered never ending kindness, supported those who wouldn't ask for help, and gave from the heart without hesitation. She made lei for an entire pā u unit only wanting to see the pooper scooper win, baked cookies for the holidays while going through ehemotherapy treatment, sewed costumes for an entire hālau hula after a 36-hour shift at the hospital, and never remembered to say no because all she knew was yes! A-L-O-H-A: Akahai. May we be gentle to eaeh other with our actions. Lōkahi. May we bring peaee towards one another. 'Olu'olu. May we be gracious in the thoughts we carry. Ha'aha'a. May we be humhle no matter where we end up. Ahonui. May we have patience with eaeh

īhe beautiful wili lei pictured here is the very first lei thut Aunty Susie creoted for her mo'opunu (Kolei's daughter). - Photo: Kalei 'Uwēko'olani

other and most importantly yourself. Though she has been gone four years now, it's like she is still here. Upon my wrist, I wear her bracelet. Around my wrist, I think of her every time I put on a kūpe'e. And within my wrist, with the pulse of every beat of my heart is the aloha she instilled within me. In my role today as a lamakū ho'okipa at Grand Wailea Resort, I share that aloha knowing that it is Hawai'i's kilohana - the highest expression of who we are and the generations who shaped us. I share it knowing that it inspires. To all the "Aunty Susies" out there who remind us of what aloha looks and feels like: Mahalo! ■ Kalei "Uwēkoolani is the cultural programming manager and leadership educator at Grand Wailea Resort. She leads a team that focuses on perpetuating cultural traditions, culinary coUaborations, and a commitment to support both artists and artisans within our lāhui. Kalei is a single parent who has dedicated her time instilling and engaging in the perpetuation of the Hawaiian language, culture, and traditions in her daughter. For more information, contact kalei. uwekoolani@waMorfastoria.com.