Kahealani

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.

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