I’m from my grandma, the one who called me Caelan
Raking the leaves in the yard Picking pua kenikeni Always wondering why her mango tree didn’t give fruit anymore Ti leaves surround her entire house and I like to think she planted it not only for hula skirts and lei but for protection I’m from Kaʻaiʻōhelo, a name that one girl in every generation in my ‘ohana carry The eater of the ʻōhelo berry I’m from Ushiya, my great-grandma who came from Okinawa Strong like an ox Born and raised in Kaimukī I’m from my pāpā who comes from Kāne'ohe I’m from my māmā whose ancestors were originally taro farmers from Hālawa Valley, Molokaʻi McAfee-Torco, the perfect combination of the two I’m from dry land kalo that started from a wedding centerpiece The bright green mo’o that live under my front stairs who follow me wherever I go Pakalana, yellow lehua and crown flower that my tutu makes look so easy to grow Plumerias ready to be picked at any given moment like a family flower shop I’m from the red 12-foot door that welcomes you into our hale From the room where the most wind blows with sea blue walls That’s filled with bilingual books, tie-dye pillow cases and paddle boards for the entire family I’m from the hidden money in the cards I find years later The unfinished orange lei hulu I started eight years ago and the glow-in-the-dark stars that I placed on my dresser when I was four that continue shimmer to this day
6 Comments
9/7/2015 04:36:27 pm
Wow Ka`ai!
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Ka'ai
9/27/2015 10:55:24 pm
haha, thanks Darren! This is the 4th website I've made on Weebly, I'm definitely getting the hang of it.
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9/8/2015 11:06:04 am
Your lesson ideas are great! I look forward to working with you. I'm not back in the classroom yet but will keep you posted!
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Ka'ai
9/27/2015 10:50:52 pm
Thanks Felicia! Even if you don't have a classroom, I would still love to meet and talk about some ideas I had. Definitely keep me posted!
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9/9/2015 08:50:45 pm
Hi Ka'ai,
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Ka'ai
9/27/2015 10:49:52 pm
Mahalo nui e Katie!
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AuthorKumu Kaʻai previously taught at Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy and Hawaiian Studies at Wilson Elementary School to K-5 students. Archives
March 2017
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