haleakalā halo

The Lord is my strength, my song, and my salvation.

~ Exodus 15:2

‘akaka falls

This mele is a favorite of many, but it's really only become special to me in the past few months.

Malihini ku‘u ‘ike ‘ana
Kahi wailele ‘o ‘Akaka
Kau mai lā i luna
Lele hunehune mai lā i nā pali
Lele hunehune mai lā i nā pali

Kau nui aku kahi mana‘o
A e ‘iki uhi aku i ka nani
I ‘uka i puīa
I ke ‘ala me ke onaona
I ke ‘ala me ke onaona

Onaona wale ho‘i i uka
I ka pa‘a mau ‘ia e ka noe
I ‘uka kū paoa
E moani nei i ku‘u poli
E moani nei i ku‘u poli

Na ke Akua mana loa
E kia‘i maluhia mai
I kēia mau pua
O ku‘u ‘āina aloha
O ku‘u ‘āina aloha

I ne‘e oe kū au e ‘ako
I ka pua o ka ‘awapuhi
I laila nō ka malihini
Na‘u ia a e honihoni
Na‘u ia a e honihoni

Ha‘ina ‘ia mai ka puana
I kahi wailele ‘o ‘Akaka
Kau mai lā i luna
Lele hunehune mai la i nā pali
Lele hunehune mai la i nā pali

As a stranger, I saw
The waterfall of ‘Akaka
From high above
The water flows gently down the cliff
The water flows gently down the cliff

One great thought arises
Of being overcome by the beauty
Of the sweet-smelling uplands
Fragrant and lovely
Fragrant and lovely

Alluring also are the uplands
Continually one with the misty rain
Whose overwhelming scent
Is welcomed into my heart
Is welcomed into my heart

It is for the Almighty
To guide and protect
The precious people
Of my beloved land
Of my beloved land

As I continue, I stop to pluck
The flower of the wild ginger
There it is a rarity
Mine to be smelled and kissed
Mine to be smelled and kissed

Tell the refrain
The waterfall of ‘Akaka
From high above
The water flows gently down the cliff
The water flows gently down the cliff

~ words & music by Helen Parker

I love the lyrics (guess I never really paid attention to them before) + everyone knows white ginger is my favorite pua...

"hope + a future"

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

~ Jeremiah 29:11

ʻAe, ke Akua has a better plan for me than I could ever imagine, so I'm reminding myself to place it all in His capable + loving hands...

hauʻoli lā makuahine

With love to all the beautiful mothers + mothers-at-heart I know...especially my own mommy, kuʻu makuahine makamae. I love you!

This poem was given to me by my Auntie Susan upon graduation. I've always used it to sort of check my "inner compass" and to see if I was fulfilling each of these criteria to the best of my ability.

That Woman is a Success...

Who loves life and lives it to the fullest;
who has discovered and shared the strengths and talents that are uniquely her own;
who puts her best into each task and leaves each situation better than she found it;
who seeks and finds that which is beautiful in all people...and all things;
whose heart is full of love and warm with compassion;
who has found joy in living and peace within herself.

~ Barbara J. Burrow

already gone

Remember all the things we wanted
Now all our memories they're haunted
We were always meant to say goodbye

Even with our fists held high
It never would've worked out right
We were never meant for do or die

I didn't want us to burn out
I didn't come here to hurt you, now I can't stop

I want you to know that it doesn't matter
Where we take this road someone's gotta go
And I want you to know you couldn't have loved me better
But I want you to move on so I'm already gone

Looking at you makes it harder
But I know that you'll find another
That doesn't always make you want to cry

Started with a perfect kiss then we could feel the poison set in
Perfect couldn't keep this love alive
You know that I love you so I love you enough to let you go

I want you to know that it doesn't matter
Where we take this road someone's gotta go
And I want you to know you couldn't have loved me better
But I want you to move on so I'm already gone

I'm already gone, already gone
You can't make it feel right when you know that it's wrong
I'm already gone, already gone
There's no moving on so I'm already gone

Already gone, already gone, already gone, ooh oh
Already gone, already gone, already gone, yeah

Remember all the things we wanted
Now all our memories they're haunted
We were always meant to say goodbye

I want you to know that it doesn't matter
Where we take this road someone's gotta go
And I want you to know you couldn't have loved me better
But I want you to move on so I'm already gone

I'm already gone, already gone
You can't make it feel right when you know that it's wrong
I'm already gone, already gone
There's no moving on so I'm already gone

~ Kelly Clarkson

Mele ʻOhana

Today I feel very grateful as I reflect on this past Easter. My ʻohana was there, as they always are. I am so blessed to have such an incredibly affectionate, funny, loving + supportive family! Yes, that day I danced for the greater ʻohana that is ke Akua's...but as always, I danced this mele especially for my very own ʻohana. Mahalo ke Akua no kuʻu ʻohana makamae!

Mele ʻOhana

ke hapai nei ka leo i ku'u 'ohana
na ke aloha e kau ka lei i ku'u poli
nau ku'u makana aloha e
kēia 'āina e pūlama mai
i loko o ku'u na'au
na ke Akua e mālama mau
eia ku'u aloha iā 'oukou

I lift my voice up to my family
whose love I wear upon my chest
this is my gift of love for you
from this land that has nurtured me
'cause it remains here in my heart
cared forever by God
here is my love for all of you

na ke Akua e mālama mau
eia ku'u aloha iā 'oukou

here is my love for all of you
all of you

i loko o ku'u na'au
na ke Akua e mālama mau

here is my love
eia ku'u aloha

here is my love
for all of you
all of you
you

~ Keali'i Reichel