Lā 2 : Lāpule, Pepeluali 26 Around the Island of Tahiti
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Tahiti, the most celebrated homeland of the Hawaiian people is located in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France. The majority of the population is of Tahitian descent and their native language, “reo maʻohi” is spoken widely, though French is the official language. Today, Nāhiku will take a tour around the island stopping at the following key places: historic Matavai Bay, Tautira the home of Hōkūleʻa, the healing waters of Vaimā Spring, the ceremonial temple of Marae ʻĀrahurahu, and the Roulottes at Place Vaiete for a typical dinner out in Tahiti.
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Ia orana me ke aloha! Today was our first full day in Tahiti and it is with great honor that we, Breeze and ʻAʻaliʻi, are able to share with you all back home about everything that we did today. It was a very busy day that started at 8:30AM with breakfast and then an all-day tour that took us to many different wahi throughout Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Iti including Matavai Bay, Fa’aone waterfall, Taravao, Tautira, Teahupoʻo surf point and more. If we had to choose one word to describe today, it would be ʻohana. The connection between us Hawaiians and the Ma’ohi (natives) of this land is something that is indescribleable, but reminds us that our kupuna link us all together as one ʻohana throughout Polynesia.
One of the first sites we visited was the tomb of King Pomare I and ʻohana. This is a place that reminded us of Mauna ‘Ala, where our aliʻi have been layed to rest. Upon our arrival at the Pomare tomb, we shared our aloha by presenting a variety of oli, mele, and hoʻokupu. One of the oli that we did, ʻO ʻOe Ia E Ka Lani Nui Mehameha, speaks of Kamehameha ʻekahi who is also known as Kaʻiwakīloumoku. When our oli came to an end, in the sky appeared an ʻiwa bird, and what a hōʻailona it was to us haumāna to see that our kupuna are wathcing over us and our efforts to share our culture. To finish our time at the Pomare Tomb, we sang Hawaiʻi Aloha and were amazed to have recieved yet another hōʻailona. The bells from the hale pule near the tomb began to ring and the voices of the poʻe Tahiti began to fill the area in which we were in without our presence being known. This was significant to us because as Hawaiians, when we ask permission to be somewhere or do something, we wait for a pane to ensure what we are doing is pono.
Another wahi that we went to today was the fresh water springs of Vaimā. Vaimā is known to be a healing spring to the people of Tahiti. We were able to get into the water and immersed ourselves in the spring. In the fresh water, there were many many people, along with 2-3 puhi (eels). Before entering the spring, Kumu Lāiana asked permission with an oli. While he was chanting, a large puhi swam to him at the source of the spring. As an ʻaumakua in our Hawaiian culture, we felt welcomed as malihini to that place. Another great thing that happened there is that I, Breeze, was able to reconnect with some friends of my ʻohana. To me it was amazing that even with the large size of Tahiti, we are able to connect with our ʻohana on unplanned notices.
The last thing that stood out to us today was the long bus ride that took us from each beautiful wahi to the next. Both haumāna and kumu enjoyed each other’s company by singing many songs of both Tahiti and Hawaii, playing games, and also through sharing stories and our feelings on the places we were and the things we saw. With two groups of people from two different schools, we are now able to say that we are one with a connection like no other. We now know the endless opportunites that our culture offers us young Hawaiians to connect with each other and take us to places to share about who we are as a lāhui.
In conclusion, the word ʻohana has been chosen to describe our day today and the many things that we have experienced. There were many other places that we did not mention here, but in our hearts and our minds, the things we have learned today will be with us forever. We as haumāna know what our responsibility here is and we are mākaukau to share our culture and we are blessed to be able to do it in such a culturally rich evironment. We hope that everything is going well at home and we hope that you continue to check out our daily updates! This trip will be nothing short of amazing!
One of the first sites we visited was the tomb of King Pomare I and ʻohana. This is a place that reminded us of Mauna ‘Ala, where our aliʻi have been layed to rest. Upon our arrival at the Pomare tomb, we shared our aloha by presenting a variety of oli, mele, and hoʻokupu. One of the oli that we did, ʻO ʻOe Ia E Ka Lani Nui Mehameha, speaks of Kamehameha ʻekahi who is also known as Kaʻiwakīloumoku. When our oli came to an end, in the sky appeared an ʻiwa bird, and what a hōʻailona it was to us haumāna to see that our kupuna are wathcing over us and our efforts to share our culture. To finish our time at the Pomare Tomb, we sang Hawaiʻi Aloha and were amazed to have recieved yet another hōʻailona. The bells from the hale pule near the tomb began to ring and the voices of the poʻe Tahiti began to fill the area in which we were in without our presence being known. This was significant to us because as Hawaiians, when we ask permission to be somewhere or do something, we wait for a pane to ensure what we are doing is pono.
Another wahi that we went to today was the fresh water springs of Vaimā. Vaimā is known to be a healing spring to the people of Tahiti. We were able to get into the water and immersed ourselves in the spring. In the fresh water, there were many many people, along with 2-3 puhi (eels). Before entering the spring, Kumu Lāiana asked permission with an oli. While he was chanting, a large puhi swam to him at the source of the spring. As an ʻaumakua in our Hawaiian culture, we felt welcomed as malihini to that place. Another great thing that happened there is that I, Breeze, was able to reconnect with some friends of my ʻohana. To me it was amazing that even with the large size of Tahiti, we are able to connect with our ʻohana on unplanned notices.
The last thing that stood out to us today was the long bus ride that took us from each beautiful wahi to the next. Both haumāna and kumu enjoyed each other’s company by singing many songs of both Tahiti and Hawaii, playing games, and also through sharing stories and our feelings on the places we were and the things we saw. With two groups of people from two different schools, we are now able to say that we are one with a connection like no other. We now know the endless opportunites that our culture offers us young Hawaiians to connect with each other and take us to places to share about who we are as a lāhui.
In conclusion, the word ʻohana has been chosen to describe our day today and the many things that we have experienced. There were many other places that we did not mention here, but in our hearts and our minds, the things we have learned today will be with us forever. We as haumāna know what our responsibility here is and we are mākaukau to share our culture and we are blessed to be able to do it in such a culturally rich evironment. We hope that everything is going well at home and we hope that you continue to check out our daily updates! This trip will be nothing short of amazing!