Lā 8: Pōʻaono, Malaki 4 Hōkūleʻa Ceremony at Anakena
Aloha mai tātou mai Rapa Nui mai a i ko mākou mau hoa ma ka ʻākau o ka Huinakolu Polenesia o Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina nō hoʻi. ʻO kēia ʻo Kalehua lāua ʻo Jadakiss e kūkala nei i ka hūhā no kēia huakaʻi keu a ka ʻimi naʻauao o kēia ka lā 8 a o kēia pū ka lā no kēia ʻaha Anakena. Ua nui loa ka hana i komo i loko o ka hoʻomākaukau no ia ʻaha ʻoiai o kēia ke kumu i huakaʻi mākou he 2,000 mau mile e wehe ai i ke ala no ka palekana no ka waʻa ʻo Hōkūleʻa a me kona ʻohana i kau pū mai ke Galapagos a i ʻaneʻi. He kuleana koʻikoʻi kā mākou no ia ʻaha no ka mea ʻo Hawaiʻi ka piko a me ke one hānau o kēia waʻa kaulua a he mamo mākou no ia wahi a ua pono e hoʻohanohano i ka inoa ʻo Hōkūleʻa me ka maiau a me ka ʻoikelakela a ua kō nō ka hana.
Anakena was said to be where the first people landed who was an aliʻi named Hotumatuʻa. He was seeking for new land at the time when his kahuna had a dream that there would be new ʻāina for them to live. Hotumatuʻa then sent his kanaka to venture out and seek the new ʻāina his kahuna had dreamt about and when they returned, they confirmed that there was indeed land for them to live on. Hotumatuʻa sailed across the ocean with his pregnant sister and when they got to shore, his sister gave birth. Anakena is also the same wahi where Hōkūleʻa sailed into 18 years ago. This wahi is symbolic in ways which our kupuna found new ʻāina and have used kilo hōkū to way find aupuni honua. Which is why it was appropriate to hold the welcoming ceremony here.
Saturday, March 4, 2017 is the day which brought the Nāhiku Delegation together for ceremony; the main purpose of this entire huakaʻi. Without this day, none of the previous experiences, which so dramatically changed all of our lives, would have occured. The arrival of Hōkūleʻa to Rapa Nui marked its trip back into Pākīpika, where the crew of the worldwide Mālama Honua voyage will take its last few legs to get back home. The extraodinary mana of Hawaiians is shown through every completed journey of Hōkūleʻa, solidifying our place as an ikaika and truly akamai people. The arrival of this majestic waʻa also tied together all the ʻōiwi of the Polyneisan Triangle, for Hōkūleʻa was merely a rebirth of what our ancestors had been doing for generations. Todayʻs ceremony at Anakena was a celebration of our ʻohana of Pākīpika, where the peopleʻs island homes are so distant but their blood and culture binds them ever so tight.
The ceremony began the night before, where we physically and mentally prepared for our kuleana. With a good nightʻs rest and a hearty breakfast, we were ready to take on the day. Upon our arrival at Anakena, we walked as one hui to meet the Hōkūleʻa and her crew at the kahakai. All we could see as we made our way was a huge flock of people, both ʻōiwi and malihini. Once in front of the big crowd, we were met with smiling faces and tons of leis, along with the loud pounding of pahu and chanting voices. There were many exchanges as aliʻi from both Rapa Nui and Hōkūleʻa expressed feelings of gratitude towards each other.
From the kahakai we followed the people of Rapa Nui up mauka as they sang a song about the place which they live. We were taken to an ahu where another aliʻi of the people – Hiro -- connected Hawaiians to Rapa Nui and illustrated the importance of Hōkūleʻas journey. As this wise aliʻi was sharing his manaʻo an ʻiwa appeared overhead, bringing everything back full circle for we knew Kamehameha was with us as this celebration took place. After this amazing hōʻailona, we danced ʻAuʻa ʻIa, then made our way back down to get to Ahu Naunau for the main ceremony. This ahu was created so that when waʻa like the Hōkūleʻa arrive to Rapa Nui they will be able to see the culture and heritage of the Rapa Nui. Much culture was exchanged between both people, as dancing, singing, and ʻawa were shared. Afterward, we were all taken to eat from the umu (imu), and kani ka pila together with many of the people who attended the ceremony. This day was truly a special one, as two peopleʻs came together as one, a reunion of the family of Pākīpika.
Anakena was said to be where the first people landed who was an aliʻi named Hotumatuʻa. He was seeking for new land at the time when his kahuna had a dream that there would be new ʻāina for them to live. Hotumatuʻa then sent his kanaka to venture out and seek the new ʻāina his kahuna had dreamt about and when they returned, they confirmed that there was indeed land for them to live on. Hotumatuʻa sailed across the ocean with his pregnant sister and when they got to shore, his sister gave birth. Anakena is also the same wahi where Hōkūleʻa sailed into 18 years ago. This wahi is symbolic in ways which our kupuna found new ʻāina and have used kilo hōkū to way find aupuni honua. Which is why it was appropriate to hold the welcoming ceremony here.
Saturday, March 4, 2017 is the day which brought the Nāhiku Delegation together for ceremony; the main purpose of this entire huakaʻi. Without this day, none of the previous experiences, which so dramatically changed all of our lives, would have occured. The arrival of Hōkūleʻa to Rapa Nui marked its trip back into Pākīpika, where the crew of the worldwide Mālama Honua voyage will take its last few legs to get back home. The extraodinary mana of Hawaiians is shown through every completed journey of Hōkūleʻa, solidifying our place as an ikaika and truly akamai people. The arrival of this majestic waʻa also tied together all the ʻōiwi of the Polyneisan Triangle, for Hōkūleʻa was merely a rebirth of what our ancestors had been doing for generations. Todayʻs ceremony at Anakena was a celebration of our ʻohana of Pākīpika, where the peopleʻs island homes are so distant but their blood and culture binds them ever so tight.
The ceremony began the night before, where we physically and mentally prepared for our kuleana. With a good nightʻs rest and a hearty breakfast, we were ready to take on the day. Upon our arrival at Anakena, we walked as one hui to meet the Hōkūleʻa and her crew at the kahakai. All we could see as we made our way was a huge flock of people, both ʻōiwi and malihini. Once in front of the big crowd, we were met with smiling faces and tons of leis, along with the loud pounding of pahu and chanting voices. There were many exchanges as aliʻi from both Rapa Nui and Hōkūleʻa expressed feelings of gratitude towards each other.
From the kahakai we followed the people of Rapa Nui up mauka as they sang a song about the place which they live. We were taken to an ahu where another aliʻi of the people – Hiro -- connected Hawaiians to Rapa Nui and illustrated the importance of Hōkūleʻas journey. As this wise aliʻi was sharing his manaʻo an ʻiwa appeared overhead, bringing everything back full circle for we knew Kamehameha was with us as this celebration took place. After this amazing hōʻailona, we danced ʻAuʻa ʻIa, then made our way back down to get to Ahu Naunau for the main ceremony. This ahu was created so that when waʻa like the Hōkūleʻa arrive to Rapa Nui they will be able to see the culture and heritage of the Rapa Nui. Much culture was exchanged between both people, as dancing, singing, and ʻawa were shared. Afterward, we were all taken to eat from the umu (imu), and kani ka pila together with many of the people who attended the ceremony. This day was truly a special one, as two peopleʻs came together as one, a reunion of the family of Pākīpika.