Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 7, 1 July 2008 — Protecting Kāne's gifts [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Protecting Kāne's gifts

In the traditional belief system of Hawaiians, all things in nature, both animate and inanimate, possess mana. Mana is the life force that represents the spiritual side of the Hawaiian universe. Hawaiians are always surrounded by mana in plants, trees, rocks, animals, water and the oeean. Further, mueh in nature represents the mana of the four major gods, Kāne, Lono, Kanaloa and Kū, and is kino lau (many forms) of these gods. Thus, Hawaiians are constantly surrounded and protected by the spiritual essence and strength of the gods. It is because of this relationship that great respect and reverence is given to all things in nature.

Mary Kawena Puku'i explains that Kāne is the god of procreation and Kāne embodies the values related to perpetuation of human life. Kāne is also known as, K ā(ne)onohiakalā (the eyeball of the sun), and K &(ne)waiola (the water of life) encompassing the mana of sunlight and fresh water, in rain or streams, that is life-giv-ing and healing. For the planter, Ka wai ola a Kāne is the fresh, life-giving water of Kāne that irrigates and delivers Kāne's mana to crops. Kāne is also in the lightning as Kānehekili or Kānewawahilani (the splitter of the sky). Kāne is embodied in the whirlwind, the great wind, the little wind, as well as in the peaceful breeze. The mana of Kāne is in the rainbow, in many types of clouds, and in both "the great and small outpouring of water of the mountain or the precipice." Other kino lau of Kāne are erect stones that are either

naturally placed or set in plaee, as well as sea coral, bamboo, and the foods poi, p_polo, kalo and 'awa. Together, Kāne and Kanaloa are credited with creating freshwater springs and streams throughout Hawai'i. Mo'olelo abound telling how these gods opened freshwater springs to help people and farmers. Many of their springs are found in the Mānoa ahupua'a. Kānewai, the large underground pool near the university, was known as the "healing waters of Kāne." Not far away, the sacred water of Kumulae Spring is another source of Kāne's healing water. A mo'olelo is told of a "wonderous" princess whose beautiful wahine attendants protected the princess from the view of men. At night, the wahine accompanied their princess to a bathing plaee at Kumulae Spring. Another spring on the grounds of Punahou School, Kapunahou, was created by Kāne's great thrust of his staff into the earth, responding to Kanaloa's request for water to the quench his great thirst after

their day's lengthy travel from Kuaihelani. Early Hawaiians knew that life was not possible without fresh water, and that all vegetation, food plants and people required water to flourish. The abundance of fresh water and food plants symbolized wealth. Thus, the word for weahh, waiwai, is a repetition of the word for water, wai. The penalty for defiling a source of fresh water was severe, and so, all Hawaiians regarded Kāne's fresh-water springs with greatest of respect. In 2008, our spring rains have been light ... ahnost nonexistent, and we face a potential drought. Foliage is turning brown and the suimner has only begun. Fanners have been told to reduce watering their crops. Conserving and protecting fresh water is critical. It is our kuleana. So, it is time to: 1) Fix household faucets that drip. 2) Turn off the tap as you are brushing your teeth or shaving. 3) Water the lawn and plants briefly in the early morning or late afternoon.

4) Use nozzles that shut the water off while washing the car. 5) Wash only full loads of clothing. 5) Report any leaking or running faucets and sprinklers to the owners of private, commercial or government facilities. And, 6) Encourage children to swim in the oeean, as you put toys that require running water away, until the drought threat passes. We must protect our most nnportant resource. I

OLAKINO ■ Y0UR HEALĪH

By Claire Ku'uleilani Hughes, Dr. PH„ R.D.

Conserving and protecting fresh water is critical.