Hawaiian proverb: The stars are the spies of heaven

w Editor’s note: Following is the English synopsis of a letter written to The Garden Island by Kapaa resident Sally Jo Keahi Manea, followed by the Hawaiian version.

There is wisdom in Hawaiian names. Astronomy increases understanding of the universe. Stargazing through the clear heavens at Maunakea has enlightened the populace, who has a responsibility to care for the worldly gifts provided by God. Two winds bow at Maunakea. The first forbids stargazing, the second supports it. The long list of previous government wrongdoing was acknowledged in the letter of Manoi and Summers (9-22-19). How can we correctly proceed? Now it seems that some believe that exploring heaven is no longer important. What is the value to our great grandchildren if there is no stargazing supported on this mountain? What of the children whose parents work there now? Study the names and actions of Hawaii kings and queens. I think that they would carefully promote astronomy at Maunakea. Today, my great-grandchildren can become astronomers without leaving Hawaii. This is good! Astronomy is important. Hawaiians are clever, wise and enlightened and committed to righteous progress. Up, together, join hands!

Aloha kakou:

Ia Maunakea ka mana‘o.

‘O na hoku no na kiu o ka lani. (‘Olelo No‘eau #2513)

Ke hapai nei ko‘u mana‘o e pili ana i ke kilo hoku ma Hawai‘i. He wahi pono loa ‘o Maunakea e ‘ike moakoka i no lani. E nono pono kokou i ka inoa — ‘o ia ho‘i ‘o Mau na akea; “without end the expanse.” Pono kakou (ka honua holo ‘oko‘a) e ho‘ona‘auao me keia hana kilo nana. Ua hana ‘ia na ‘aina a me na lani e Ke Akua. No kakou ke kuleana e malama i na makana a Ke Akua. ‘O ia wahi, ‘o Mau na akea, ‘oi aku ia ma ka honua holo‘oko‘a e kilo a ‘imi a loa‘a i ka ‘ike o na lani aouli aku. He kuleana ko Hawai‘i e ho‘omau i ka ‘ike hohonu. He kuleana nui ka malama ‘ana a me ka ho‘omau ‘ana i keia ‘ike kilo lani, ke kilo hoku na ho‘i ma Maunakea.

He ‘ano makani maulua ko Maunakea i ia mau la. ‘O ka mua, ‘o ia ka papa ‘ana i ka hana kilo hoku ma laila. ‘O ka lua, ‘o ia ka malama ‘ana a me ka ho‘opaipai ‘ana i keia ‘ike no‘eau no laila mai.

‘Oiai, he oia‘i‘o ka nui o na hana hewa i hana ‘ia ma mua e ke aupuni Hawai‘i. Na Lorrin Mano‘i laua ‘o Ka‘imi Summers i ho‘ike maika‘i i ka mo‘olelo i helu papa ‘ia o ia mau hewa. (The Garden Island, Other Voices, 9-22-19) He loa ke ala hele i holo hewa ‘ia mai e ke aupuni a hiki i keia manawa. Pono kakou e ‘imi a loa‘a i hana e ho‘oponopono i ia mau hewa. Pehea ‘o keia mua aku? ‘O kela ka nanau.

Hiki ‘anei ia kakou ke holo mua me ka malamalama, a no‘ono‘o no ka kakou mau keiki? Ina ‘a‘ohe hana ma na ohe nana ma Maunakea, he aha la ka waiwai na na ‘ohana Hawai‘i? I keia manawa, nui ka po‘e e hana nei ma laila, a he koko Hawai‘i ko kekahi. Pehea lakou? Hiki ke ho‘onui i keia hana me ka no‘ono‘o pono a malamalama, a i ‘ole, hiki ke papa ‘ia keia hana. Ina e papa ‘ia, a laila, ‘a‘ohe hana. He aha ka maika‘i o keia no ka kakou mau mo‘opuna kua kahi a me na hanauna e hiki mai ana?

Kohu mea la he maika‘i ‘ole a he pono ‘ole ke akeakamai kilo hoku i keia mau la a he pono ka papa ‘ana. E ho‘omana‘o kakou i na ali‘i o ka wa mamua. Nana i ka inoa o Kamehameha ‘ekolu, ‘o Kauikeaouli. Hiki ke unuhi keia i “set the knowledge in/of the firmament.” He ali‘i aloha ‘ia ‘o ia e kana po‘e no kana hapai ‘ana ka ‘ike o ka po‘e Hawai‘i i luna. A ‘o ke ali‘i ‘o Kalakaua, ‘o ia ka helu ‘ekahi e holo a puni ka honua e ho‘onui i kona ‘ike a me ka ‘ike o kana po‘e. E ho‘omana‘o kakou ia Kaleleonalani me kana holo aku ia Enelani e ‘imi i ke kokua no ke kukulu ‘ana i ka Haukapila o ka Mo‘i Wahine. Mana‘o au, ke ‘ae nei lakou i ka hana kilo hoku ma ko lakou ‘aina i keia mau la.

Makemake au e paipai i ka‘u mau mo‘opuna kua kahi e lilo i mea kilo hoku ma ‘ane‘i ma ko lakou ‘aina hanau. I keia manawa, hiki ia lakou ke lilo i kanaka kilo hoku me ka ha‘alele ‘ole ia Hawai‘i a ne‘e i kahi ‘e. He mea maika‘i kela! Nui na hana like ‘ole a puni ka ‘ohe nana, a ma‘ema‘e keia hana ke malama ‘ia me ka pono. ‘Oi aku ko Hawai‘i ‘eleu, ka ‘ike, a me ka na‘auao! He akeakamai nui ‘o ke kilo hoku. Pehea kakou e holo mua ai me ka pono? E ala, e alu, e kuilima!

‘O wau me ka ha‘aha‘a.