E ola mau 'o Haloa

Lately I've been filled with thoughts of our elder sibling Haloa. My imagination has been fired with the myriad shades of green found on the leaves, and all the sights and sounds and stories he has to tell us from his countless experiences.

In thinking of our elder sibling, my mind sorts through the numerous challenges that face his growth. Adequate water, both in quantity and quality, it's prior uprooting in favor of rice, the introduction of foreign infestations and disease, GMO. And I start to process....adequate water, both in quantity and quality for Haloa = disconnect from land/place and practices for us, uprooting in favor of rice for Haloa = the English language instead of our mother tongue, introduction of foreign infestations and disease is the exact same for us both, and GMO for him = colonization for us. (I could go on and on...but won't)

Then I process even further. My kupuna would always tell me, "mimic, emulate your elder sibling." Where it was information for me then, it is knowledge for me now. I can say to my kupuna, "Maopopo au e tutu." Our elder sibling is firmly planted. It bends but never breaks. In times of difficulty (read: "bad weather"), it still manages to pull sustenance from our parent Papahanaumoku, and nourish the offshoots. Through all the many challenges there is never a complaint, challenges are faced and overcome, and continues to give. I got it now, tutu. "Mimic, emulate your elder sibling." Maopopo au e Tutu, e kulia au.