Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 1, 1 January 2002 — Wisdom from the past will guide us in 2002 [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Wisdom from the past will guide us in 2002

Aloha kākou e nā 'ōiwi Hawai'i, this 14th article in a series of 48, highlights thoughtful, instructional words of our ancestors, "'ōlelo no'eau," (wise sayings) as OHA trustees, staff and beneficiaries begin year 2002 - the second year of the new millennium and the decade - ka makahiki hou, The new year provides all of us the opportunity to revisit, as needed through the eyes of the elders, perspective, process and purpose, that ean guide our future work, Voices from the past, ancestral reminders, such as 'ōlelo no'eau collected by Kawena Pūku'i published by the Bishop Museum with partial support of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs offer excellent reflections and reminders, The following are mana'o, from the " 'Ōlelo No'eau " publication Hawaiian proverbs and poeheal sayings, from whieh we all ean learn, no ka makahiki hou, ♦ No nā Kahuwaiwai o OHA (for

the Trustees): uHe like nō ke kō'ele, o ka pili na'e he like 'ole " (the thumping sounds the same but the fitting of the parts is not - some do good work, others do not; but the hustle and bustle are the same); " 'A'ohe 'ulu e loa'a i ka pōkole o ka lou " (no breadfruit ean be reached when the picking stick is too short - there is no success without preparation) ; "/ le 'a ka hula i ka ho'opa'a " (the hula is pleasing because of the drummer - the lesser details that one pays little attention to are just as important as the major ones, Although the attention is given to the dancer, the drummer and dancer play an important role in the dance), "/ ali'i nō ke ali'i i ke kanaka " (a chief is a chief because of the people who serve him); "/ kanaka nō 'oe ke mālama i ke kanaka " (you will be well served when you care for the person who serves you); "/ ulu nō ka lālā i ke kumu " (the branches grow because of the trunk - without our ancestors we would not be here); "/ maika'i ke

kalo i ka 'ōhā " (the goodness of the taro is judged by the young plant it produces - parents are often judged by the behavior of their children; "He lohe ke ola, he kuli ka make " (to hear is life, to turn a deaf ear is death - it pays to heed sound advice), "Ua lehulehu a manomano ka 'ikena a ka Hawai'i " (great and numerous is the knowledge of the Hawaiians), ♦ No nā limahana o OHA (for the staff): " 'O ka pono ka hana 'ia a iho mai na lani" (continue to do good until the heavens eome down to you - blessings eome to those who persist in doing good); "Ua lehulehu a manomano ka 'ikena a ka Hawai'i" (great and numerous is the knowledge of the Hawaiians); " Mōhala i ka wai ka maka o ka pua " (unfolded by the water are the faces of the flowers - flowers thrive where there is water, as thriving people are found where living eonditions are good).

♦ No nā pulapula Hawai'i o OHA (for the beneficiaries): "He waiwai nui ka lokahi " (Unity is a precious possession); " Ua lehulehu a manomano ka 'ikena a ka Hawai'i " (great and numerous is the knowledge of the Hawaiians), " Mōhala i ka wai ka maka o ka pua " (unfolded by the water are the faces of the flowers - flowers thrive where there is water, as thriving people are found where living conditions are good), "Ka manu ka'upu halo'ale o ka moana " (the ka'upu, the bird that observes the oeean - said of a careful observer), ♦ No kākou (for us all) : Hau'oli makahiki hou a me ka maluhia o ke Akua iā kākou pākahi a pau, Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God ( Matthew 5:9). E holomua kākou i kēia makahiki hou, 2002, ■

Haunani Apoliona, MSW Trustee, At-large