HE ALOHA I KŌ MAUI​ - STATEMENT OF THE PROTECT KAHOʻOLAWE ʻOHANA IN SUPPORT OF THE ʻĀINA AND PEOPLE OF MAUI

   
​In this time, we acknowledge our Maui Nui ‘ohana as an integral connector of our Pae ‘Āina ‘o Hawai‘i. From the inception of the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana movement to this very day, Maui Nui continues to support access to Kaho‘olawe on land and by sea. The islands and people of Maui Nui are integral to fulfilling the vision of re-greening Kahoʻolawe through ceremonial practice, soil remediation, and reforestation. We acknowledge the importance of our islands-wide ‘ohana network. As children of Hawai‘i and as the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana, we are embedded in and indebted to Maui Nui. We are humbled by the many selfless ʻOhana members who activated to organize, protect communities, and provide critical resources to families throughout Maui during this devastation. 

Kelvin Ho, an ʻOhana Kua from Kauaʻi, is one of many who supported the response during the catastrophic 2017 floods on Kauaʻi. Based on his efforts to the landslide restoration in Hanalei, Kelvin offers the following manaʻo,

“Kahoʻolawe is a place of reverent remembrance. In times of great loss and complete upheaval we hold and offer the perspective gifted us by our teachers and kūpuna. Even from the deepest scars, trauma and wounded places, remaining firmly rooted in aloha ʻāina can offer profound healing and the spiritual awakening of a place and a people. The essence of aloha is one of compassion and empathy. We stand united with Maui Nui.”

George Helm adamantly believed in the ability of music to console, uplift, and inspire. One of his favorite mele, E Mau, composed by Alvin Kaleolani Isaacs, encourages, 

E mau kō kākou lāhui, e hoʻomau              Let’s strive to keep our nation alive, let’s strive
E mau kō kākou ʻōlelo, e hoʻomau             Let’s strive to keep our language alive, let’s strive
E mau ka hana pono o ka ʻāina                  Let’s strive to preserve the good of the islands
I mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono                So that righteousness may continue to be with us
I ka pono o ka ʻāina                                     All that’s good in the islands

Hoʻoulu ka pono o ka ʻāina, e hoʻoulu       Build the greatness of Hawaiʻi, build them
Hoʻōla ka nani o ka ʻāina, e hoʻōla             Restore the goodness of the islands, restore them
Hoʻōla a hoʻoulu lā a hoʻolaha                    Restore, build, and sustain them throughout the world
I mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono                 So that righteousness will fill the land once again
I ka pono o ka ʻāīna                                     Every good in the island

Aloha ʻāina, aloha kekahi i kekahi, 
Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana

www.protectkahoolaweohana.org
Instagram: @kahoolawe
Facebook: www.facebook.com/protectkahoolaweohana 

Individuals that wish to contribute to Maui Fire relief and recovery may visit mauiola.org.