By supporting Black Lives Matter, we do not lose Hawaiian ways of resistance and knowing, we do not stop perpetuating our culture or lose our language
We both thrive together, for example Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is in February and we also share that month with Black History month. I think itʻs important to support all cultures no matter the time of the year.
However, that aloha comes with certain expectations of mutual respect
I think this is what makes Hawaiʻi and our culture so unique. The relationship we build and hold are very respectful and rooted. Itʻs almost like the level of family we hold for each other.
Pele is the chiefess of both sacred darkness and sacred light–ʻO Pele ia aliʻi o Hawaiʻi, he aliʻi no laʻa uli, no laʻa kea.
Itʻs interesting reading this part, after comparing what Pele could do and given the times we had been affected by Pele on the Moku o Keawe, to me darkness can be related to the destruction of things and light could be the beginning of things which both are important roles of how Pele functions in Hawaiʻi.
Our one hope is in standing firm—shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart. The voice of the people is the voice of God
Thinking about recent history, our stand on Mauna Kea was just like how Emma Aima described this. We were one and one people, our voice was heard all across the world. I think the difference was the importance of god back then, god was still being introduced and played a bigger role in each community in Hawaiʻi.
O ka makaukau ma na Moolelo o kou Aina Makuahine ke keehina ike mua ma ke Kalaiaina e hiki ai ke paio no ka pono o ka Noho’na Aupuni ana.”
This is very eyeopening to me, to back up with who you are and where youʻre from is not just the first step to political action but also the first step in global recognition.
Yet the aloha ʻāina instilled in us by our kūpuna drives us to demand better stewardship for our land, to push for genuine security for our vulnerable peoples, to heal through the pain, to keep fighting until there are none of us left
I think we drive for this mentality of malama kekahi i kekahi due to our queen Liliʻuokalani. What she wanted from us before we were overthrew was to not fight back and create bloodshed. To me somewhat because of that we are who we are today.
Can you really know someone if you don’t understand their name?
This line is very important when trying to breakdown or define someone, a place or thing. In a Hawaiian setting, name is often related back to our kupuna and or land which allows you to look into the history of place or person. It allows a more deeper learning experience.
The most memorable encounter that I had with No‘u’s poetic sensibilities was when she gave a presentation and workshop on how to use Kanaka ‘Ōiwi poetic devices to push a poem’s possibilities
This was interesting first reading this line, Kanaka ʻŌiwi poetic devices sounds like a very powerful tool.
I learned to ask better questions of desire and knowledge through her work, which I often read side-by-side with work by Haunani-Kay Trask
I appreciate this line by Noʻu Revilla, it provides an example of an Hawaiian way of learning that honors your Kumu through Hana. Ma ka Hana ka ʻike.