my sissy, my friend

I call my dearest girlfriends, related by koko or not - "Sissy." We've all been through a lot together, and our hearts stay connected even if we don't see each other often. My Sissy here on Maui is a Hawaiian Protocol Specialist + is very akamai. I love the way her heart and soul shine through her words. Today's makana is an excerpt from one of her "Morning Manaʻo" radio spots.

he makana
"We have been focusing on mahalo, gratitude and thanksgiving. We can express mahalo through pule. Pule translates as prayer, incantation, blessing, grace, to worship, say grace, ask a blessing. Pule was a part of our ancestors' daily routines, daily life. Everything was accompanied by pule. Sometimes we think of pule as a time to ask Ke Akua for blessings. Sometimes we forget that pule is also a time to give thanks and recount all the many blessings ke Akua has given us. In our family we have Pule ʻOhana, family prayer, in the morning and again in the evening. It is a time when we gather together as ʻohana and offer pule. Everyone participates, from the youngest to the oldest. During pule ʻohana we are often reminded of the many blessings we have and we are able to mahalo aku, express our gratitude. Often, the most poignant pule comes from the mouths of our children as they mahalo aku ke Akua. So, the next time you prepare to pule, remember to begin with mahalo. Imagine if we all took the time today to offer a pule mahalo, a prayer of gratitude!"

You see? I told you she was smart! Get more "Morning Manaʻo" at http://www.thehawaiianlearningcenter.com/. Mahalo Ke Akua no kuʻu Sissy.

Ke Akua pū, a hui hou.

~ qwiki ~

Check out some of my favorite links (top right). I'm sure you'll find something new + exciting!

Ke Akua pu.

aloha mai!

First things first.

'Olelo Hawai'i
Yes, I am Hawaiian, born + raised. My dad has black hair, brown eyes + skin, is of Hawaiian, Filipino + Korean descent, and is originally from Palolo Valley on Oʻahu. My blonde-haired blue-eyed mom from Hermosa Beach, California is English, Irish, Scottish, Swedish, German + Norwegian. So Mom + Dad = one hapa haole hula girl! I definitely relate more to my Hawaiian ancestry than any other nationality running in my koko. While I have danced hula and studied Hawaiian culture and language for most of my life, I am NOT a kumu; I am a perpetual student. "Kumu" is a title reserved only for the very special few who have earned it! Interspersed throughout my blOGG are Hawaiian words and phrases. Unfortunately, technology has not yet found a way for diacritical markings to be viewed correctly across all browsers + platforms, thus, the kahakō may sadly show incorrectly throughout (if at all), and the ʻokina may sometimes actually just be an apostrophe. Translations may be found by visiting Ulukau, a Hawaiian Electronic Library, which can be found at: http://wehewehe.olelo.hawaii.edu/cgi-bin/hdict?!=e.

OGG = my island, my maui
Through hula, I have been blessed with many opportunities to travel to exotic places like Samoa, Tahiti, Europe + Japan, as well as throughout Hawaiʻi + the continental US. I love experiencing other cultures and languages, but there is nothing like looking out that homebound plane's window and seeing the cerulean skies, azure ocean, green mountains + lush valleys of Maui, truly nō ka oi! If you don't believe me, check out the maui visitors bureau website at http://www.visitmaui.com/, order your free vacation planner + see for yourself.

Ke Akua pū.