cherish your children

This evening, Kanoa, Kala‘i and I will attend a memorial service for a 16 year old boy, Kai‘o...who tragically died in a car accident last week. His grandma works with my mom. I've been helping the ‘ohana design the program for the services, so have been getting to know him a little bit through the pictures and poems that have been submitted for the program. I look at my boys - Kanoa's the same age - and pray, so hard, for Kai‘o's ‘ohana...for their loss and the pain of missing him.

I can't imagine it...so I say, mahalo ke Akua! Thank God, praise the Lord every day that your child is there for you to wake up, to run around to various activities, and yes, to even nag. Better yet, take a moment to hug your child and thank God. Let your eyes light up when you see your child at the end of a long day...for isn't that what we live for? Aren't they our future, the light of our lives? I know my boys are. So ‘ae, mahalo ke Akua.

This song by Nā Leo Pilimehana reminds me of feeling so blessed when both of my boys were born...

You Don't Remember

You don't remember
I'll never forget
That blessed day when we first met
And I saw the face I always knew
The little smile, the little you

You don't remember
I'll never forget
One day in my life I will never regret
To feel such love I never knew
All bundled up right there in you

(Chorus)
As I held you near my heart I understood at last
The part of me I never met
You don't remember
But I'll never forget

You don't remember
I'll never forget
That blessed day when we first met
And when I heard your voice I realized the truth
Everything in my life would lead me here to you

You don't remember
I'll never forget
One day in my life I will never regret
A gift so precious giving me my angel love
Truly a miracle of God above

(Chorus)

And when I look into your eyes
I see the reason why I've lived my life

(Chorus)

Oh you don't remember
But I'll never forget
You don't remember
But I'll never forget

almost lover

Don't you just love when you come across a song that resonates with you? Here's one my heart could have written this past spring...


Almost Lover

Your fingertips across my skin
The palm trees swaying in the wind
Images
You sang me Hawaiian* lullabies
The sweetest sadness in your eyes
Clever trick
I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me

Goodbye my almost lover
Goodbye my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be
So long my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do

We walked along a crowded street
You took my hand and danced with me
Images
And when you left you kissed my lips
You told me you would never let me forget these images
I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me

Goodbye my almost lover
Goodbye my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be
So long my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do

I cannot go to the ocean
I cannot drive the streets at night
I cannot wake up in the morning
Without you on my mind
But so you're gone and I'm haunted
And I bet you are just fine
Did I make it that easy
To walk right in and out of my life

Goodbye my almost lover
Goodbye my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be
So long my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do

~ A Fine Frenzy

*(Spanish)

"hea i ka haku" ~ shout to the lord

Aloha ~

On April 28, I asked for prayers for my friend + hula sister Kris' mom, who was in the ICU. Auntie Kuʻulei has since passed away; her service will be held tonight. Auntie Kuʻulei had so much aloha for Kelsey, her granddaughter + Kris' daughter...so tonight, we will all dance "Hea i ka Haku," as sung so beautifully by Holunape, in honor of Auntie Kuʻulei. This has always been a favorite of mine + I will picture her sweet, joyful smile the whole time...

Hea i ka Haku

E mele au i ka ho‘ola e
He nani no
He nani no
E Iesu, ku‘u ho‘ola
‘A‘ohe lua Ou
I na la a pau
E ho‘omaika‘i
I kou aloha kamaha‘o.
Ku‘u kokua, ku‘u malu
Ku‘u mana e
Ku‘u hanu, ku‘u ola
E hi‘ilani mau a mau

HUI
Hea i ka Haku
E himeni ke ao
He mana ke Ali‘i, e ho‘ihi e
Uluhia ‘o luna me ko lalo e
I ka lohe i kou inoa
Himeni hau‘oli i ka hana ho‘i au
He aloha mau ko‘u
Ku mau a mau
Kukahi ka nani ke paulele au ia ‘oe

.

Then sings my soul, My saviour God, to thee
How great thou art
How great thou art
My Jesus, my Savior Lord, there is none like you
All of my days I want to praise
The wonders of your mighty love
My comfort, my Shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship you

CHORUS
Shout to the Lord
All the earth, let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of your name
I sing for joy
At the work of your hands
Forever I'll love you
Forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You

~ Darlene Zschech

‘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...

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

if no one will listen

Maybe no one told you there is strength in your tears
And so you fight to keep from pouring out
But what if you unlock the gate that keeps your secret soul
Do you think that there's enough that you would drown?

[chorus]
If no one will listen
If you decide to speak
If no one is left standing after the bombs explode
If no one wants to look at you
For what you really are
I will be here still

No one can tell you where you alone must go
There's no telling what you will find there
And God, I know the fear that eats away at your bones
Screaming every step, "Just stay here"

[chorus]

If you find your fists are raw and red from beating yourself down
If your legs have given out under the weight
If you find you've been settling for a world of gray
So you wouldn't have to face down your own hate

[chorus 2x]

I will be here


~ Kelly Clarkson