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ʻŌlelo Noʻeau are poetic wise words or sayings collected and passed down from kūpuna (Native Hawaiian ancestors) to us today. They often have a literal meaning and a "kaona," or deeper hidden meaning. Many of the well known ʻŌlelo Noʻeau we have today were collected by Mary Kawena Pukui in her text titled, ʻŌlelo Noʻeau: Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings. Yet, there are many more ʻŌlelo Noʻeau held by cultural practitioners, Hawaiian communities and within Hawaiian families that were not compiled into Pukui's text.
Here are some of the ʻŌlelo Noʻēau that our Summit organizers have used to guide this year's events.
While the eyes are still open (and there is still life)
*Advice given to young people often contains these words which mean to learn all they can from old folk, while they are alive (eyes open) for it will be too late when the eyes are closed (moe nā maka) by death.
*interpretation by ʻAnakala Kaipo Hale
Ua Ao Hawai’i Ke ‘Ōlino Nei Mālamalama
Hawai’i is enlightened, for the brightness of day is here.
Hawai‘i is in an age of education
Pukui - ʻŌlelo Noʻeau # 2773
Ka Wa Ma Mua, Ka Wa Ma Hope
The time before (me/us), the time after (me/us)
I have everything I need backing me up, guiding everything in front of me.
Ma ka hana ka ʻike
In working one learns.
Pukui - ʻŌlelo Noʻeau # 2088
Ua ola loko i ke aloha
Love gives life within.
Love is imperative to one’s mental and physical welfare
Pukui - ʻŌlelo No'eau # 2836
Na wai hoʻi ka ʻole o ke akamai, he alahele i maʻa i ka hele ʻia e oʻu mau makua.
Who would not be wise on a path walked upon by my parents and ancestors?
King Kamehameha II, Liholiho
ʻAʻohe pau ka ʻike i ka hālau hoʻokahi.
All knowledge is not taught in the same school.
One can learn from many sources.
Pukui - ʻŌlelo Noʻeau # 203
Summit Mana'o Nui
Summit Mana'o Nui
2022 Virtual Summit & Workshops Rationale:
2022 Virtual Summit & Workshops Rationale:
The kalo ʻApuwai captures the purest waters, which fall from the heavens and collects them for significant cultural uses. Similarly, the 2022 Ka Waiwai No Nā Kūpuna Summit and Workshops hopes to serve as a vessel to perpetuate our most treasured resources, the cultural ‘ike (knowledge) and practices of our kūpuna (Native Hawaiian ancestors).
Last year, over 2,000 people, from around the world, gathered with 70 Hawaiian cultural practitioners/specialists in the 2021 virtual Ka Waiwai No Nā Kūpuna Conference for All to engage in Hawaiian Culture-based Education (HCBE). No matter where they were on their path of cultural learning, participants answered the kāhea (the call) to freely learn about and connect with our ʻike kūpuna.
While the eyes are still open (and there is still life)
*Advice given to young people often contains these words which mean to learn all they can from old folk, while they are alive (eyes open) for it will be too late when the eyes are closed (moe nā maka) by death.
*interpretation by Uncle Kaipo Hale
This year, we will offer a series of events to help facilitate a shift from HCBE to Hawaiian Culture-Based Practices (HCBP). The wise words of our kūpuna, “ʻOi kaʻakaʻa nā maka”, serve as an urgent reminder to embrace the shared kuleana to perpetuate the practices of our ancestors in our daily lives.
Ka Wa Ma Mua, Ka Wa Ma Hope
The time before (me/us), the time after (me/us)
I have everything I need backing me up, guiding everything in front of me.
Historically, Hawaiʻi and its people have encountered pandemics and many other challenging events. Our aliʻi met those moments, with selfless leadership guided by ‘ike kūpuna. During today’s uncertain times, we can look to the past, at the resiliency of our ancestors, to discover cultural practices that can help guide us towards healing, persevering, and thriving.
Hawaiian Culture-Based Practices For All
We openly invite ALL to join the 2022 virtual HCBP movement and cultivate a relationship with the practices of our kūpuna to build resiliency, foster a sense of personal balance and support total well-being.
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