He leo welina kēia iā ʻoukou a pau loa e nā haumāna, nā kānaka, nā 'ōiwi o nēia ʻāina aloha o ko kākou lāhui mai kahi i puka ae ai ka lā i Kumukahi ma Puna a i ka moe ʻana ma Puʻuohau ma Kona, mai ʻūpolu ma ka ʻāina aliʻi 'o Kohala a i kahi i pae ai nā waʻa ma Kalae. E pae, e pae ē, ua pae maila. Aloha kākou!

This year's theme of E Kō Wale! Make it Happen! calls upon each and every one of us to mobilize ourselves on our pathways forward. If we know our kuleana, our responsibilities...it is only fitting that the next step is to move progressively forward on this on-going journey that our Akua and our kupuna continues to guide us on.

There is an ʻōlelo noʻeau that compares us, as kanaka, to the ʻaʻaliʻi plant: 

He ʻaʻaliʻi kū makani mai au; ʻaʻohe makani nana e kulaʻi. I am wind resisting ʻaʻaliʻi; no gale can push me over. (Pukui, K. 1983. ʻŌlelo Noʻeau)

As a pioneer species that grows after the cooling of a new lava flow, the ʻaʻaliʻi plant roots itself deep into the crevices for stability and security, preparing for the onslaught of challenges by wind, heat, and other factors that attempt to oppress the ʻaʻaliʻi from flourishing. However, it is this drought-tolerated plant whose tap roots grow deep into our honua that will allow the plant to withstand the most severe conditions. E KŌ WALE!

We, as kanaka, are deeply rooted in our own moʻokūʻauhau (genealogy), mōʻaukala (history), nohona (place), ʻike hana (practices), and ʻōlelo (language). It is with this that we become resilient to changes, overcome oppression, and move forward through and without obstacles. Like the ʻaʻaliʻi, we acclimate ourselves so that we are able to thrive as conditions continue to change around us. E KŌ WALE!

It is your presence here at Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi that furthers our growth and elevates our lāhui kanaka. We strive to not only do what is pono for our immediate future but we continue to forecast the opportunities for generations to come. It is your individual and collective contribution as ʻōiwi leaders that will push our lāhui to thrive locally, nationally, and internationally as we have seen our haumāna and alumni do over the years. E KŌ WALE!