Meet the author: Camille Nicolucci
Camille Nicolucciʻs poem is a tribute to the lessons of her ancestors. Caring for the Earth, being a good citizen, giving back to the community, doing your best for your family, being helpful to others, taking care of yourself, making time for fun — these values are universal. In her poem, Kahealani, Camille reminds us to hold fast to those values that define us all. Part of New Release Monday at Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa Spring 2014.
She comes from a place
where people work the fields
the ʻāina sparkling with appreciation.
Time to kaukau.
productive was the day.
She comes from a place
where red dirt and mud
are stains on slippers and clothing.
Symbolic they are —
For we mālama ʻāina.
She comes from a place
where kanaka throw net.
Kūpuna have taught us
Mālama i ke kai
And take only what you need.
She comes from a place
where keiki kōkua.
A place there is for you.
Many hands make light work.
“Ono the poi,” says tūtū
while mo’opuna pa’ahana.
She comes from a place
Of broken English
Talk story too much!
Under the mango tree
we walaʻau … ‘til all pau.