Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 3, 1 March 2022 — Pick Up Your 'Auamo [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Pick Up Your 'Auamo

V LAMAKU HO'OKIPA \ ^ A BEACON OF HOSPITALITY ^

By Malia Sanders

In many ways, olelo Hawai'i ean be mueh more descriptive than English, packing many layers of meaning into single words. For example, we hear the term "kuleana" throughout our workplaces and our community. Most uses describe kuleana as a responsibility, a duty, a job or a task. However, allow your perspective to shift a little as you look through the long list of English terms that describe kuleana including: right, privilege, eoneem, title, jurisdiction, reason, cause, function, and yes, responsibility. Understanding that your responsibility is a privilege bestowed upon you helps to shift the mindset about that kuleana from a burden to a point of pride. The kuleana to carry several 'umeke (calabashes) at one time isn't possible all in one hand, and it certainly is still quite burdensome even when both hands are used. We ean imaeine

generations of our kūpuna who have carried out their kuleana using the 'auamo to amplify their capacity to carry seemingly impossible burdens. Our kūpuna tell us to 'auamo kuleana because kuleana is a special burden. 'Auamo kuleana means that one ean carry burdens and still move steadily toward the goal. 'Auamo kuleana not only describes responsibility, but the inherent ability

and privilege to carry out this responsibility and plaee it in halanee. When I think about my own kuleana that I have to 'auamo, I often eonsider how to best halanee my diverse kuleana. For myself, I have kuleana as a daughter, a sister, an aunty, a partner, executive director of a eommunity nonprofit, and an ofhcer of my civic club. More broadly, as the leader of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association, I have kuleana to find the halanee between sharing our Hawaiian culture and being gracious hosts, and protecting the natural and eultural resources of our 'āina aloha from the dangers of over-visitation. When thinking about your kuleana, do not get distracted by the volume or magnitude of the tasks at hand. Consider first your ability to 'auamo - to carry necessary burdens and halanee them on the path toward your goal. 'Auamo kou kuleana. Piek up your 'auamo. Take on your kuleana. ■ Mālia Sanders is the executive director ofthe Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association ( NaHHA ). Working to better connect the Hawaiian community to the visitor industry, NaHHA supports thepeople whoprovide authentic experiences to Hawai'i's visitors. For more information go to www.nahha. eom Follow NaHHA on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @nahha8o8 and (a)kuhikuhi8o8

A man uses an 'auamo to carry two large 'umeke. - Photo: Hawai'i State Archives