Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 9, 1 September 1987 — Young Hawaiian Shares Hoʻolako Poem [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Young Hawaiian Shares Hoʻolako Poem

Strapping 12-year-old VictorKanoa Jr. of Waimanalo Hawaiian Homestead Land is a proud young Hawaiian who expressed his feelings in a poem he penned in observance of Ho'olako 1987: the Year of the Hawaiian. Titled, "Being Hawaiian," the youngster's work was published in the Blanche Pope Elementary School newsletter to parents, mueh to the surprise of his parents, Victor Sr. and Charslene.

We didn t know he had written it until we saw his name at the end of the poem," exclaimed Mrs. Kanoa, a school bus driver for Don's Bus Co. "We're very proud of him," she added. Young Kanoa wrote the poem when one of his instructors at Blanche Pope suggested it to the class in observance of the Year of the Hawaiian. They were instructed to write a poem or essay. It is the first literary pieee ever written by the young Hawaiian.

Being Hawaiian I'm proud to be Hawaiian Because they are brave and strong Some people think we're stupid But we prove them to be wrong. My grandpa was a full-blooded Hawaiian And he was a good man and kind. He was a loving and caring person Whose favorite tool was his mind. Most of my family are Hawaiian All of us futl of love

Our spmts are hke a bird Soaring like a dove. All of us Hawaiians have feelings. Our appearance is a sight. Our hearts are caring Because our love is so bright. You have just heard my poem About the Hawaiian heritage. We belong in the open, Realized Not behind doors, like animals, in cages.

The elder Kanoa is a truck driver for Hawaii Meat Co. Young Victor also has two sisters, Noelani, 15, a junior, and Nohea, 14, a sophomore, both at Kailua High School. Victor himself is a brand new seventh grader at the Kamehameha Schools. He wants to share his eomposition with all Hawaiians.

Victor Kanoa Jr.