Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 2, 1 February 2008 — Pauahi's Inspiration Lives On [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Pauahi's Inspiration Lives On

ūz Stender Trustee, At-large

Editor's noīe: E kala mai, Trustee Oz Stender's eolumn was inadvertently omittedfrom the January issue of Ka Wai Ola. That eolumn is published here . Last month, I had the privilege of attending "He Makana no Pauahi" at the Kamehameha Schools' Heritage Center in honor of our beloved Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Three years ago, Speech Communications instructor Todd Takahashi, with the help of 'Alohi Ae'a and Tiare Ahu, created a class in whieh THE LAST By Kara Yoshida A civilization onee stood tall. Kamehameha, the warrior chief Ruled over all the islands. Ihe natives were superior, with strength, endurance and intelligence. Hawaiians joined hands with the gods, Using the waters from mauka to makap They made the islands resourceful. Respecting Papa and Wakea, Hawaiians understood the patterns of the stars, And the usefulness of the land. A Hawaiian prodigy in its glory days soon eame to an end Missionaries took over the islands, Changed everything about this indigenous euhiue, from the language, to the government. Hawaiians weren't allowed to be Hawaiians. Forced to the strict grammar of English and To the practices of the western ways, These natives lost their culture and forgot their roots. Westemers heeame the dictator of the islands, Who turned paradise into plantation fields. Hawaiians were taken advantage of, Lost their rights to live on their lands, And stripped of their culture. Westemers unjustly overthrown the Hawaiian monarchy. Ihe natives' hearts beating with anger rebelled, But was deprived of their way of life. Hawaiians had nothing, And was robbed of everything. As soon as the natives had figured out the puzzle, Ihe foreigners took away the pieces. All they were left with was a frayed memory of something that was, Ihe land of the natives were stolen. Tables turned and tomadoes started. Hawai'i, a plaee that was onee peaceful heeame a thing of the past. How ean the Hawaiians move on? We are the last Hawaiians, And need to stand proudly hand in hand, To correct a hundred years of injustice.

his students would have the opportunity to write poetry that expresses what they feel in their na'au. Eaeh poem would be presented to invited guests as they honored Pauahi just before her birthday on Dec. 19. Today, the students plan all aspects of this presentation, including the creation of the invitations and the guest list. At the end of eaeh presentation, guests are given a gift of their writings. Todd expresses that his greatest hope is that the na'au of his haumana will resonate within our hearts and that we will gain mueh from them as they have put to paper "truth" taken from their na'au. As he shares, "I think it is safe to say that our Princess is the life and inspiration of my haumana." Mahalo, Todd, for your insight and passion; but most importantly, mahalo for sharing your students with all of us. I mua, Kamehameha! Hau'oli Makahiki Hou! □ A DOPEY CINDERELLA STORY By Keoni Kailimai In the beginning . . . I thought it would be a fun filled joumey And then it hit me, This is for real, no tuming back I must admit, it was TORTURE Unbearable Unforgivable Undesirable And that doesn't even begin To skim the surface Of my experience with this horrifying plaee I'd wake in the middle of night for no reason, Where's my family? Where's my house? Where's my life? I'd cry every day Just for a ehanee to have my old life back I couldn't take it any longer, But just before I gave up hope The sun eame out to play I fmally realized, That this really was a fun filled joumey I just had to look a little harder for the fun part All of a sudden, The people got nicer The food got better And the word homesick was erased from my dictionary I've eome to love This six-year joumey Of love, fear, and adrenaline Every single day brings Something exciting Something worthwhile Something new What do you eall it? One of those Dopey Cinderella stories? Wanna know what I eall it? Boarding at Kamehameha.