`Āina: The Land We Come From

Meet the author: Kupihea Lanakilaokalāhui Wilson

 

I come from a land,

where Papa the Earth Mother,

loved Wākea our Sky Father,

I come from a land,

where Maui fished the islands,

with a hook in his hands,

I come from a land,

where the Kanaka Maoli once ruled,

that was once united under a single crown,

I come from a land,

where that crown was stolen,

by foreign powers taken from its throne,

I come from a land,

where my King and Queen where forced,

to change their kingdom to conform to the eyes of others,

I come from a land,

that was held in violence,

that in one night all went silent,

I come from a land,

where the 38,000 protested,

yet their voices were never noticed,

I come from a land,

that is illegally occupied,

where 400,000 of my fore fathers have died,

where even in death they are being evicted from their homes,

yet they expect US to sit idly by,

I come from a land,

that is being illegally held down,

a land that has lost its crown,

surrounded by an outside power,

that has no importance in their culture,

I come from a land,

where my people are dying,

not on the outside but on the inside crying,

I come from a land,

that is commercialized,

where fake leis and fake instruments are culture to their eyes,

that is being sold out,

where the voices go unheard no matter how loud we SHOUT,

I come from a land,

where natives are endangered,

stuck in poverty and afraid of danger,

hoping that one day this will all pass,

yet everyday new day reminds me of our past,

I come from a land,

where I’m sad to say,

but many of us Hawaiians have lost our way,

yet in spite of all that has happened there is still hope for the brighter day,

I come from a land,

that we all love and know,

a place i am proud to call my home,

a place that is simply beautiful,

a place where no word for love,

could ever describe the connection we share,

I come from a land,

where our people shall survive,

where the language is still alive,

a place where our culture will be revived,

I come from a land,

where our kings will come back,

when the time comes my people will unite,

where we will stand and take the fight,

I come from a land,

that should have been taken care of,

a place that WE must care for,

put aside the little things,

and unite under your national identity.

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