When I read this thoughtful post by Kumu Paul Neves, I was so touched that I asked him if I could share it here. He graciously said that I might. Mahalo no, Kumu Neves, for your heartfelt manaʻo!
Na Kumu Hula Paul Kevin Kealiïkea o Mano Neves
Mahalo Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa for always protecting us. We always seem to pump up the great impending disaster and we forget about the new rain that cleans our streams and refreshes our forests, flows anew to the sea and fills out water tanks. It washes the sorrows of our aina away and gives us so much to look forward to.
And yet does our Chamber of Commerce or business community ever acknowledge that if those mountains were 1,000ft instead of 14,000ft our unique opportunity to do business here on Moku o Keawe let alone live here, probably wouldn’t exist?
I have visited other parts of the world where such acknowledgement and respect are given, celebrated and their mountains or streams or oceans or creatures are given every protection.and respect.
Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa,, Hualalai, Kohala, Haleakala, Ka’ala and Wai’ale’ale are natural resources they do not exist because of human activity. But because of Akua!
Hawai’i needs to take care of these unique creations of nature. They provide a unique place for us to exist on their shoulders..
All the mauna are sacred and they prove their spiritual and unique presence each and every day and especially when a storm heads our way.
Mahalo Ke Akua for our mauna and the fresh rain and fresh start it brings!
Aloha Hawai’i,
Kumu Hula Paul Kevin Kealiïkea o Mano Neves