NĀNĀ KA MAKA, HOʻOLOHE KA PEPEIAO, PAʻA KA WAHA, HANA KA LIMA!
by Laetitia "Kukui" Mahoney
NĀNĀ KA MAKA, HOʻOLOHE KA PEPEIAO, PAʻA KA WAHA, HANA KA LIMA
TRANSLATION
Observe with the eyes; listen with the ears; shut the mouth; work the hands!
TRANSLATION THOUGHT
Thus one learns
MANA'O THOUGHT
Individually, your observation drives your acknowledgement of your presence to ensure the work is done correctly, effectively and appropriately.
THE STORY
Kahuna Kuhikuhi Puʻeone were wise individuals connected to the lay of the land; the appropriateness of structure location, the flow of the water and the patterns of environment (wind, clouds and erosion). Kilo - observations were used by Nā Kālai Waʻa - Navigator to navigate upon the ocean. Today, Kilo allows self-observation and self acknowledgement to guide or inspire learners within our society. Kumu Hula (Instructors of Life) are connected with the environment through daily observation acknowledging specific historical values or stories expressed in their choreography. Nānā ka maka -Look with your eyes, Hoʻolohe ka pepeiao - Listen with your ears, Paʻa ka waha - silence the mouth, Hana ka lima - work with your hands. Kilo!
LOOK WITH YOUR EYES, LISTEN WITH YOUR EARS, WORK WITH YOUR HANDS.
Sustainability Papa (Mother of the Earth) gave birth to a gourd, a calabash with its cover, he ’umeke a he po’i; Wākea (Sky Father) threw the cover up, and it became the sky; then Wākea threw out the inner core, ‘ka haku oloko’, and it became the sun; as he threw it up, the seeds became stars. Wākea saw the whiteness of the soft core, the ‘pala haku’, of the gourd and threw that up, and it became the moon; the white layer, ‘papa ke’oke’o’, of the gourd Wākea scraped and threw up into space and it became clouds; the juice of the gourd he poured into the clouds, and it became rain. The calabash from the separation of the gourd by Wākea became land and ocean.
GALLERY
