AHawaiianTellingaStoryKimoA.Cashman

Toshare,tolearn,toseek,toexplore,tochange,tolive

Fornow,forafter

Newstoriesemerge

Oflaughter,struggle,pain,hope

Fromtwostoriesshared

Youmattertome

SoIriskitallandtell

Thenextaboutus

Onceuponatime

Therecameamaninaboat

Welaterkilledhim

Comethesickwedie

Comethebookwedieagain

Cometheschool,threedeaths

Yethereweare,still

Backfromthoughtsthatweweredead

Withstoriestotell

Onceuponatime

Ashyboybecameaman

Withkuleana

Totellthroughachild

Whathesawandwhathedid

Sotheydienomore

Helpmemybrotherandsister

ThisisthestoryItell

Butwhatdoyouhear

(response)

Brother,thisIhear

Yourstoryspeakingtome

speakingbacktoyou

Mahalo

Ihearittoo,ourstories

Andmoreemerging

Onceuponthistime

Amanwithkuleana

Retellsastory

Thenhehearsavoice

Anoldsoulistellinga

Storythroughachild

Thisisastoryaboutafatherwitharustythree-prong.Athree-prongisafishingspear.Ithas

threebarbsatoneendofashaftandsurgicalrubberattachedtotheotherend.Thesurgical

rubberisstretcheduptheshaftofthespearandheldinplacewithatightgripovertheshaft.A

quickreleaseofthegripwillpropelthespear.

Mythree-pronghasn’ttouchedwaterforawhilenowsoit’salittlerusty.Thisissomewhatan

indicationofhowlifehaschanged/evolvedformeoverthepastfewyears.Idothingsalittle

different.It’sallgoodthough.It’sallforthesamereasons.Nonetheless,mythree-prong,

althoughalittlerusty,iscocked.AndI’mstilllookingintheholes,tryingtocatchsomethingto

bringhome.

Bringsomethinghome?Bringsomethinghome?

Somethingtoeat?Somethingtokeepuswarm?

Somethingtoremember?Somethingtolearnfrom?

Somethingtohelpguide?

Somethingtohelpguideus?

Somethingtohelpguideus

Onthisjourney

Onourjourneys

Somethingtoguideourjourneys

Somethingtoshowushow

Howtoproceed,Howtocarryon,Howtocontinue

HowtothinkandHowtodo

Onourjourneys

DasHow?

IwasinHamoa,justforafewdays,hangingoutwiththefamily--justafewdaystorejuvenate,

catchup,playfisherman–justafewdaystoreflectonthirty-yearoldmemoriesofaplace

whereIstillbelong.Justafewdays.OurtimeinHamoaissolimited,sowemakethemostof

ourdays.

Thatvisit,inparticular,wasespeciallygoodbecausetherewasagroupofcollegestudents

comingtostayatthehouseforafewdays.It’sgoodfunwhentherearealotofpeoplearound.

AndsinceIhadrecentlyachievedfull-on“uncle”status,IknewIcouldjustsitbackandwatch

thekidsdoalltheworkwhentheyarrived.

Thedaybeforethestudentscamein,westartedpreppingthehouseforourguests.Weputup

thetent,gotthecookingstuffready,andcleanedtheyard.Goodfun!Wealsoneededtogoto

thestoretopickupsmallkinestuffsandtofillupthepropanetankforthestove.Thepropane

tankwasn’tempty,butitwasn’tfull.Soitneededtobetoppedoff.WhenwegottoHānastore,

weletthegirlworkingknowthatweneededpropane.Shedirectedustothepropane-filling

areaacrosstheroad.Wegottotheareaandtheboywhowasworking,pickedupthetankand

said,“Uncle.Thetank,kindafullalready.Youonlyneedlittlebit.”“Righton,”Ireplied.Hefilled

upthetankanditseemedlikeitonlytookhimaboutthreesecondstodoso.“That’sit,pau

already,”hesaid.

Sowepickedupthetankandwentbacktothestoretopay.Thegirlatthecashregisterdidn’t

askushowmuchpropanewasputintothetank.Shejustpunchedinafewnumbersandtoldus

howmuchweowed.“Thirtydollars.”“Howmuch?”Iresponded.“Thirtydollars,”she

repeated.“Butheonlyputlittlebitinthetank.Inothinkitwasthirtydollarsworthofgas.”

“Uncle,dashow.Wejustfillupthetank.Wenocheckhowmuchgaswentinside.Tofillemup

costthirtydollars.”“What?”Isaidindisbelief.“YeahUncle,DasHow.Tofillupthetankcost

thirtydollars.”IstoodatthecounterwithmydaughterandhergrandfatherandIwasataloss

forwords.ThegirlatthecashregisterhadalookonherfacethatseemedtosuggestthatI

shouldhaveknownthis.Infact,thepeopleinlinebehindusseemedtobenoddingin

agreementwithherastheylistenedin.“DasHow?!”

SoIquietlypaidthirtydollarsforaboutadangounceofpropanegasbecause,“DasHow.”I

shouldhaveknownthatitwouldhavebeentomyadvantagetobringinanemptypropanetank

tobefilledinsteadofbringinginonethatwasnearcapacitybecause,“DasHow!”NowIknow.I

havebeenenlightenedtotheDASHOWforthepropaneinHāna.Iwillresteasyatnightnow

thatIhavethisknowledge.DASHOW!!!!DasHow?No!Dascrazy!Butstill,DasHow.

Wekindalaughedaboutthepropaneincidentonthewayhome.Inparticular,wefoundhumor

inthecash-register-girl’sattitude.Shewascalm.Shehadasmileonherfacethewholetime.

AndtherewasnohintthatshewasconsideringchangingtheHāna-propane-protocolsforus.

Heruseofthephrase,“DasHow”,continuestoresonate.DasHowtheydothings.Likeornot,

that’showtheydoem.Thatyoungladywasconfident.Icanstillhearhersaying,“Uncle,Das

How.”

DasHow?

DasHow,theydoem.

Their–DasHow.

Withconfidence!

Howyoudoem?

WhatisyourDasHow?

Inlife,withallyoudo,andthink,

WhatisyourDasHow?

Asfather,asteacher,asstudent,asmentor,asspouse

WhatisyourDasHow?

Beyondthepropanestories,

WhatisyourDasHow?

Whatisour’s?

TheevolvingDasHow?

Kimo’s–DasHow?

DasHow?Whenwewerekids,weusetovisitGrandmaandGrandpaallthetimeonMaui.Well,itactually

wasn’tallthetime.Weusetogowhenwecouldaffordit.Itwasexpensiveforourfamilyof

fivetoflytoMaui.Sowhenwegotthechancetogo,wewoulddefinitelytrytomakethemost

outofthetrip.WewouldtrytomakeittoMauiatleastonceayear,mosttimesduringsummer

vacation.Itprobablyfeltlikewewentthereallthetimebecauseourvisitstherewereso

memorablethatwereflectedonthevisitswellafterwereturnedtoHonolulu.Thosewere

wonderfulvisitstoMaui.

WewouldusuallyarriveinKahuluiandspendadayortwoatmygrandparents’homeintown.

WewouldstockupongroceriesandgeneralsuppliesbeforeheadingouttoHāna.Thedrive

intoHāna,asyouknow,canbeprettyroughwiththewindingroadsandallthecrazytourists.

Nowadays,ittakesabouttwohourstogetfromKahuluitoHānabutbackwhenwewerekids,

thedrivewouldtakeevenlongerastheroadsweren’tassmoothastheyarenow.ButGrandpa

wouldmakeitintoHānainlessthantwohours.HewouldjustblowemintoHānaasifthere

wasn’tanyoneelseontheroad.

WewouldtaketwocarsintoHānaandwedreadedgettingstuckinGrandpa’scar.Buthealone

wouldassignustowhichcarwewouldbein.OneofuskidswouldgetstuckwithGrandpaand

Grandmainthe“Indy500”car.AnditwasthatkidwhowouldreachHānawithanempty

stomach.TherewerethreesimpleunspokenruleswhenyourodeinGrandpa’scar:Holdon

tight,notalking,andnothrowingup.ButthrowingupontheroadtoHānawaspartofthe

journey,especiallywhenwerodeinGrandpa’scar.Everyonewhowasluckyenoughtoget

assignedtothecarthatPapa(myfather)wasdrivingfeltbadfortheunluckykidinGrandpa’s

carbuttheywererelieveditwasn’tthem.IgotstuckinGrandpa’scarafewtimesandIthrew

upeverytime.

Irememberonetimeinparticular.WewereactuallygoingfromHānatoKahuluiandIwas

ridinginthebackseatofthecarandearlyoninthetrip,IfeltlikeIwasgettingcarsick.ButI

saidnothing.Iwastooafraidtosayanything.SoItriedtocontroltheurgetothrowupforas

longasIcould.Butaboutmid-waythroughthetrip,Iexplodedrightinthecar.Therewaslunch

ontheseat,ontheground,andallovermyself.GrandpaandGrandmawerefurious.They

pulledofftothesideoftheroadandstartedcleaningmeandthecar.Therestofthefamily

droveupawhilelaterandhelpedcleanthingsup.Myparentswereprettyupsettoowhenthey

sawmeonthesideoftheroadcoveredinlunchbutIgotthesensethattheyweremoreupset

atGrandpa.Thegoodthingwasthatwhenwegoteverythingcleanedupandwewerereadyto

getgoingagain,Iwasre-assignedtotheothercar.Hurray!!!IwasthinkingthatIshouldhave

thrownupsooner.

DasHow?

Unclecantellyou,too.Onetime,wewenttoHamoaforChristmas-allofus,thewholegang,

alltheauntiesandunclesandcousins.Waymorepeoplethancouldfit,orsleep,inthehouse.

ButitwasabigdealforustobeinHamoaforChristmasespeciallywithsomanypeople.We

usuallyspentChristmasinHonolulusobeinginHamoawasawesome.Wecouldgoholoholo

witheverybodyandbestofall,wecouldcleanupaftereveryone.Wheneverwewentto

Hamoa,wealwayshadchorestodo,justlikeathome.Ithoughtatthetimethatkidson

vacationweren’tsupposetohaveanychorestodo,butIguessIwaswrong.Actually,the

reminderstodoourchoresweremoreintensewhenwewereinHamoathanwhenwewereat

home.Butstill,beinginHamoawasgreat.Thefishing,swimming,andjusteverythingwas

good.Thechoreswecoulddealwith.

ThisChristmaswasespeciallygoodinthatweweregoingtoimuapigfortheChristmas

celebration.Souscity-slickersfromHonoluluwereallgeareduptoattacktheimu.Wekinda

cheatedthoughandboughtthepigfrozen,alreadygutted,andprettymuchreadytocook.The

pig,however,neededtothawout.SoPapathemhungitinthestoreroomonthesideofthe

house.Thestoreroomwasattachedtothemainhousewithitsownentrance.Itwasonceused

asabedroombutforthelongesttimeitwashometothefishingnets,theyardtools,old

furniture,andeverythingthatnofitinthemainhouse.Sothefrozenpigwastohanginthe

storeroomovernightuntilthefollowingdaywhenitwouldgointotheimu.

Thepigwaskindaspookylookinghangingintheroom.Ithungfromitsbound-backlegswithits

nosesuspendedjustinchesfromthefloorbelow.Itwouldslowlyspinaquarter-turnoneway

andgentlyrotatebacktheotherwaytoitsoriginalposition.Blooddrainedfromthepigasit

thawed.WhatalovelyChristmassightthatwas.WeshouldhaveputChristmaslightsonthepig

andused‘emasourChristmastree.AsIreflectbackontheexperience,itishilarious,butatthe

time,itwasn’tfunnyatall,especiallywhenitcametimeforustogotosleep.Again,thehouse

wasfullofpeople.Whenweweregivenourroomassignmentsfromourgrandfather,my

brotherandIfoundoutthatweweregoingtobesleepinginthestoreroomwiththepig-yup,

withthedead,frozen,andupside-downpig.MerryChristmas!Butwecoulddonothing.We

justwentintothestoreroomandwenttosleep.AsIlookbackonthesituation,Irealizewhy

we,amongstallthekidsandadultsatthehouse,wererelegatedtothestoreroom.It’sjustlike

whenyouareathomeandyouhaveguestscometovisit,youareexpectedtoaccommodate

them.Mygrandfatherandparentsfeltwewereathomeandthiswasourplace.

DasHow?

TheKidsHavetoGoThere!!

Home–theplaceswecamefrom.

Wehavetogothere.

That’sjusthowitis.

Wordsalonenocount.

Youtellemthestory,

theyhearonlyhalfthestory,

theyrememberhalfofwhattheyheard,

theywillre-tellhalfofthat.

That’sallthey’lldo.

Onlyre-tell.

Buttakeemthere,too,andtheycantellthewhole

oftheirownstory,

ofwhotheymeet,whattheyhearandseeanddo.

Thentheywillbeofthatplacetoo,

andcantellthewholeoftheirownstory.

DasHow?

FieldTrip

FieldtriptimeanditsofftoPearlHarbor

IreallynolikeridetheboatcuzIgoinggetsick

Buttheteachergoingmakemerideemanyways

Offtothe

ArizonaMemorial

“Theygavetheirlivesforourfreedom.”

“Thankyou?”

“Sneakybuggas,onlysneakattackUS.”

“Wedroppedthebombonthemandtheydeservedit.”

Saidasickkidridingontheboat

Andtheteachermademeridetheboat

DasHow?

ThePōhakuCannonofHaneo’o

Lookout,Haneo’ogetonepōhakucannon.

Wesitupontheporchwatchingthetoureyedrivepastmymadda’shouse,

thepōhakucannonofHaneo’oisreadytofire.

Herecomesmoretoureye,sunburntandlost,

lostasever.

Notaclueastowheretheygoing,orwheretheyare,

orthattheyinthescope

ofthepōhakucannonofHaneo’o.

Willtheystopandaskmymaddafordirections?

Orevenbetter,willtheydarebackupintomymadda’syardtoturnaround,

andfacethepōhakucannonofHaneo’o?

Theyarebackingupintomymadda’syard,

andHaneo’oisfiringthepōhakucannon.

Firethepōhakucannon!

DasHow?

Hair

Iwastryingtolook“sovereign”anditwasworking.OrmaybeIjustlookedscary.I’mnot

toosurebutwhateverworked.Myhairwasoncedownpastmyshouldersandbushy.

Myhairwasoutofcontrol.Iletitgrowoutforacoupleyearsanditserveditspurpose.

ItwaslikeaflagontopofmyheadthattoldeverybodywhoIwas.IHawaiian.Athome,

Iworemyhairinapony-tailonthetopofmyhead,tokeepitoutoftheway.Itlooked

likeafountainofhairontopofmyhead.Atwork,Ipulledmyhairneatlybackintoa

tightbun.WhenIwashangingoutwithfriends,Ijustpulleditbackinnoparticularway.

AndthenthereweretimeswhenIletmyhairdown,fluffeditallup,andpulleditover

myshoulderssoitsurroundedmyfaceandscreamed.

DasHow?

BrownBackPact

Longago

Onekanaktryingtoact

Tryingtoactinanother’sworld

Doinghaolestuffforhaoleamongsthaole

Onekanaktryingtoact

ThenImadeapactwithanotherbrownback

Tonoact,noreact,noslack

Sowenevaact,react,orslack

Wejustworryaboutourownpack

Ilookbackatthepact

Madewithanotherbrownback

Anditstill,keepsmeontrack

DasHow?

Fatherhood

Weholdherclosetous

withnoneedtorhymeorsoundprettyorlookgood.

Weholdherclosetous.

Wesayathousandthankyousbutwekeepherhidden.

Hiddenwithinourarms,withourbackstotheworld

andthisisthemostselfishactever.

Andtheyareright,butcannotsayathing.

Becauseintheirarmstheyhidetheirreason,theself,thepride.

Andweholdherclosetous.

Wenotsurewhattodo,

andneitherareyou.

Weholdherclosetous.

DasHow?IheardTainasaysomethingsthatmadesense.

IheardPohatutalkingtohiskidsandgrandkids.

IheardTainatellingstories.

IheardPohatuinthelikenessofhisancestors.

IheardTainatellingstoriesmindfulthathiskidsandgrandkidsknowtheirancestorsthrough

him.

IheardPohatusayingtous–DasHow.

IheardTainasaying,howwetreatourkidsandgrandkids,ishowtheywilltreatusandour

ancestors.

IheardPohatusayingtous–DasHow.

DasHow?

VictimPunaheleFromthreecornerssheisyellingoutloud

ThatIambeautifultooTo

LookinthecenterandhearabsolutelynothingButsheisbeautifultoo

ToThinkthatthereisanother

Thatbydefaultmightclaimthemo’oAndsheisbeautifultoo

ToMysweetie,mysweetiewholovesmesoMysweetie,mysweetieloveseveryoneso

AndsheisbeautifultooTo

KillanyhopeofherevercominghomeAndtokillthehomewithinher,wedietoo

AndsheisbeautifultooTo

KnowthataworldisbeingbuiltaroundherAndfromwithin,shejustknows

ThatsheisbeautifultooTo

Onlyknowavictim-lessworld,She’llknowofonlyonetoreplicate.

Andinthatworld,We,willbebeautiful,too.

Abrownstory,DasHow?

Ibrown,soIHawaiian.IrealizedthatthiswasthestoryIhadbeentelling.Ibrown,soI

Hawaiian.Irealizedthatthiswasthestorythatmydaughterwashearing.Inthecaroneday

aftersomeheavyexposuretothesun,IjokinglybraggedtomydaughterabouthowdarkIhad

gotten.IlookeddownonmyarmsasIdrovethecarandsaidinacockytone,“LookhowdarkI

got.IHawaiiandaswhy!”Herquickandaggressiveresponseshookmeup!“Well,I’mnotdark

likethatsothatmeansthatI’mnotHawaiian.Yousaidyoubrown,youHawaiianandI’mnot

brownsothatmeansI’mnotHawaiianlikeyou.”Ididn’tknowhowtorespond.Mywifekinda

laughedbecausesheknewthatmydaughter’scommentthrewmeoff.Butitwasn’tfunnyto

me.Notatall.Mydaughterjustsaidthatshewasn’tHawaiian.

Mydaughterjusttoldmeshewasn’tHawaiian.

AndshewasonlyrepeatingwhatIsaid.

Exposedtothesun.

DasHow?MygrandfatherhadgoutandnowIhavegout.Myuncleshavegoutandsomeofmyfriends

evenhaveit.WhenIgetagoutattack,itisextremelypainful.Thepainconsumesmywhole

bodyeventhoughthegoutismostlylocatedinmyankles.Sometimes,thepainissointense

thatIamunabletomove,unabletogotowork,unabletogotoschool.Weweretoldstoriesof

howmygrandfatherwoulddealwithhispain.AndIunderstandthatyoudowhatyouhaveto

dotodealwithit.Evenformenow,IdowhatIhavetodotodealwiththepain.Anything.

Sometimesitdoesn’tmatterwhatIdo,thepainjusttakesover.Thegoutattacksjustsneakup

onme.Imightbefeelingwonderfulonenight,andBAM!IwakeupinthemorningandI’mout

ofcommission.Nocanmove.InevercantellwhenI’llgetitsoItrytomakesureeverythingis

inorder,allmyjobsarecompleteandeverythingisset.Itrytostayaheadofthegout.Justin

case.

Mahalo–DasHow!

Mahalo,

Mrs.Kimo

BecauseIamgreatfultobe,

Mr.Tammy.

Mahalo

Noshamedance,DasHow?Theotherday,thefamilywaswatchingTVinthelivingroom.Theywereallintenselyfocused

onwhateverTVprogramwason.SoIpickedupmyukulele,stoodrightnexttotheTV(facing

myaudience),andIbeganmyperformance.“I’dliketodedicatemyfirstsongtoeveryonein

thefrontrow,especiallytothisgood–lookingwahineinfrontofme.Mam,whatisyour

name?”Mywifedidnotrespond.Shedidn’tevenlookatme.Infact,nooneintheaudience

lookedatme.TheykeptstaringattheTV.Thisdidnotphaseme,however.Ilearnedalongtime

agothattheshowmustgoon.IbeganstrummingasIcontinuedtalking.“Sofolksjustsitback,

relax,andenjoythemusic.Ifyouguyslikedance,noshame,getplentyroom.”Still,noonewas

payinganyattentiontome.Ibeganplayingasong.AsImadlystrummedmyukulele,Ibroke

intoamean,butflat,falsetto.Iwashavingthetimeofmylife!Myheadandshoulderswere

tiltedback.Iwasswayingtothemusic.Iwasgeeving-um.Theaudience,however,wasstill

focusedontheTV.Noonesaidaword.Noonelookedoveratme.Nooneseemedtobeas

excitedabouttheperformanceasIwas.TheywerealljustwatchingTV.Sotogettheir

attention,Istarteddancingalittlebitmore.AndIscootedbackandforthinfrontoftheTV.I

couldseethemtryingtolookaroundmeasIdidthis.“Noshamedanceyouguys,getplenty

room!”IcontinuedtoscootbackandforthinfrontoftheTVasIperformedthesong.“C’mon!

Noshamedance!”Inoticedthatoneaudiencememberwasgettingalittleirritatedwithmy

performancesoIsanglouder.WithhereyesstillfixedontheTV,theaudiencememberfinally

brokehersilence.“Keepitup.Igoingdanceonyourface,prettysoon!”saidthedisgruntled

audiencemember.IquicklythankedtheaudienceforcomingandIendedmyperformance.I

triedtogivemywifeanapology-hugbutitwasnotwellreceived.That’sOK.Iknowshelovesit

whenIsinganddanceforher.

Kumu,DasHow?Afewyearsago,Imet‘AnakēLorraine--aformerassistantprofessorwiththeCollegeof

EducationattheUniversityofHawai’iatMānoa.Shemusthavebeeninherlate70’satthe

time.ShewasanawesomeHawaiianlady.Wemissherdearly.

Shehelpedmemakeoneofthebiggestdecisionsofmylife.IhadbeenteachingatNānākuli

HighandIntermediateSchoolfor10yearswhenIwasofferedateachingpositionatthe

UniversityofHawai’iatMānoa.IwashesitanttoacceptthepositionbecauseIenjoyedworking

withthekidsinNānākuliandbecausetheuniversitypositionwouldhavemeworkingwithnew

teachersfromAmerica.Iwasalsoquestioningmyabilitytoteachattheuniversitylevel.Why

me?

Shesharedastorywithmeaboutherjourneytobecominganassistantprofessor.Asarecent

collegegraduate,shewasthelastofhergraduatingclasstobeofferedateachingpositionasa

secondaryteacherwiththeDepartmentofEducation(DOE).ShewastheonlyHawaiianstudent

intheclass.Shesaidsheknewthatshewouldbethelasttobeofferedateachingline,even

thoughshewasthemostqualifiedstudent.Initially,shewasonlyofferedapart-timeteaching

positionwhiletheothersinherclassreceivedfull-timeteachinglines.Howeverupsetshewas,

sheacceptedthejob,workedhardforthekids,andeventuallywashiredfulltime.Shewasan

awesometeacher.

AfteranumberofyearsasateacherwiththeDOE,aformerprofessorofferedherateaching

positionattheUniversityofHawai’i.Shehadtodecidewhetherornotshewasgoingtoleave

theDOE.Itwasadifficultdecisionforher.Sheenjoyedherstudents.Sheenjoyedteaching.And

deepdown,shequestionedherabilitytoteachattheuniversitylevel.

SheacceptedtheteachingpositionattheUniversityofHawai’ibecauseshefeltshehadto.She

hadtoshowthemthatshecoulddoit.“Hawaiian,youhavetotakethejob!Youhavetoshow

themthatwecandoit.”

DasHow?

Ischeduledtoconductanevaluationofoneofmyuniversitystudentswhowasstudent

teachingataschoolin‘Ewa.Theevaluationconsistedofateachingobservationanda

debriefingsessionaftertheobservation.Thedaybeforetheevaluation,thestudent,a

pleasant-haolegirlfromPennsylvania,informedmeviae-mailthatshewasalittlenervous

aboutthependingevaluation.

Ienteredherclassroomonthedayoftheevaluationandfoundaseatnearthebackofthe

room.Shegreetedmefromherdeskatthefrontoftheroomandwalkedovertohandmea

copyofherdailyplan.Weexchangedafewwordsanditwastimeforclasstobegin.The

studentswerecasuallyenteringtheroom.Theyallnoticedthestrangersittingintheir

classroom.Afewofthemacknowledgedmebutthemajorityjustfoundtheirseatsandwaited

forclasstostart.Oneboyinparticularseemedespeciallyperplexedaboutmypresence.As

classbegan,hekeptlookingbackatmewithasomewhatconfusedlookonhisface.This

continuedforaboutfiveminutes.Hewouldlookbackatmeforafewmomentsandthenreturn

hisfocustomystudent(histeacher).Itseemedlikehewastryingtofiguresomethingout.

Finallyheblurtedouttohisteacherashegesturedinmydirection,“He’syourteacher?”The

Hawaiianboysaiditwithsuchdisbelief.Apparently,mystudenthadpreviouslyinformedher

studentsthatherteacherfromtheuniversitywascomingtoclasstoevaluateher.Idon’tthink

shetoldthemthatIlookedlikethem.“ForrealMista,youherteacher?”Inoddedinthe

affirmativeasmystudentcontinuedteaching.

“Hawaiian,youhavetotakethejob!Youhavetoshowthemthatwecandoit.”

Hoʻokulāiwi

Ihavemovedon.Iamnolongerthepuka-shelltourguidefornewteachersfromAmerica.Iam

still,however,withtheuniversity.Iamworkingwithagroupofgoodpeoplewhogoalloutfor

Hawaiians.

Hoʻokulāiwi

Ahuiinthelikenessofitspeople

Hoʻokulāiwi

Ahuigoingalloutforourpeople

Hoʻokulāiwi

Thinking,asking,doing,reflecting

Hoʻokulāiwi

Mothers,fathers,sons,daughters,kūpuna,mo’opuna

Hoʻokulāiwi

Teachers,students,leaders,withandwithoutthekoko

Hoʻokulāiwi

TakecareHawaiians

Hoʻokulāiwi

TransformingHawai’i

Hoʻokulāiwi

DasHow?

Hoʻokulāiwi

ThisisaversionofaconversationIhadwithafishermanfromWaimanalo.HisnameisNenue.

Helearnedtofishfromhisfather.Hestillfisheswithhisfatherandsoon,he’llbefishingwith

hisyoungson.NenuejoinedHoʻokulāiwi

asamaster’sstudentabouttwoyearsagoandhasbeenstudentteachingataschoolinhis

hometown.Heissettograduatethissemester.

Kimo:How’sitgoingattheschool.

Nenue:It’sallgood.Thekids,righton!Iseemykidsallovertheplace–thestore,thepark,

downthebeach.Theycomerunninguptome,“HiKumu!”

Kimo:Good,ah?(Webothlaugh)

Nenue:Brah,IgottawatchwhatIdonow,theyseemeastheirKumu.

Kimo:Yeah,Yougottawatchemnow.Theywatchingyou.(againwelaugh)

Nenue:Iknowbrah,Icannotmakeanykine.Theparentswatching,too.IgottawatchwhatIdo

andwhatIsay.

Kimo:Nahyougetembrah.Theyallwatchingyoumorenowbut,dashow.YoutheKumu.

Nenue:Dasmean.Theyallwatchingme.

Kimo:Nah,yougetem.Theywatchingyou,andwhattheysee?

Theyseeyoufishingwithyourfamily,

theyseeyoumālamayourownkids,

theyseeyougreetthemandtheirfamilieswithopenarms,

theyseeyou,aHawaiian–oneofthem,takingcare.

TakingCare.

Daswhattheysee.

Andwhenyougobacktoschool,

andthekidsarelookingatyou–Kumu.

They’llseeyoufishingwithyourfamily,

they’llseeyoumālamayourkids,

they’llseeyoualohathemandtheirfamilies,

andthey’llsee,likePohatusaid,

themselvesinthelikenessofyou.

Hoʻokulāiwi

DasHow!

ThekumuinHoʻokulāiwiareinasimilarsituation.The“kids”seeustoo.TheKua’anaandKaina,

theNi’ihau,theWai’anae,andthehaolearewatchingwhatwedoandhowwedothings.They

arelearningfromus.Whatdotheyseewhentheylookatus?Whatdowewantthemtosee?

Whatisthe“DasHow”thattheysee?Theyknowthatwearetryingtotakecareofourpeople,

butwhatelsedotheysee?

OnceaKua’anatheysee,workingforyouandme.OnceaKaikainatheysee,workingforyouandme.Ontheground,runningaround,focusedlikeyouandme.

Dealingwithclowns,allovertown,allovertowngetclowns.Clownsallaround,theylookattheground,theydon’tlookatyouandme,theydon’tlookatyouandme.Crookedtheclown,theyonourground,brah,lookatme.Youandme,buttheynosee,thatyouandmearefree.Andnowwelookinatthem,andIknow,theyknowwesee.Thatamidsttheshalala,aghostcomefromafar,andlooklikethemshesayforthem,mahaloforqueelallah.ButhereWEnotalone,everywhereishome.Sobrah,noneedtalksoft,Ifneighbornolike,getoff!Cuz,neighbornolikegetoff!Hah?Brah,neighbornolikegetoff.Neighbor,gottagetoff.Neighbornotgettingoff.I'llgettheneighboroff.Shoots,we'llgettheneighboroff.PAH!!!!!Pōhakucannongoingoff.PAH!!!!!I’mneighbor,InotgettingOFF!PAH!!!!!Brah,theneighborisgoingoff.PAH!!!!!I'mneighbor,I'mNOTgettingoff!!!!!!PAH!!!!!Yup,yourneighborisoff,andyethinkstyenotgettingoff.Yougetyourneighboroff!Offtheland,offthepan,offtherockinbowl.Offthetop,

offthecrop,offHawaiiangold.Offthecash,offthesash,offdisfellasoul.Offmyback,offthepact,offthedancer’sfloor.Sofromthegout,fromthemouth,fromthecannon’sroar,fromtheboat,fromthehair,fromthehiddenchildreneverywhere,fromthepark,fromtheschool,fromtheexposuretothesun,theircomesasurge,aburningurge,tomakethisneighborrun.WithKai,Kua,Nii,Wai,andNānākuli,herecomesthewaveandthatcastlewillcave,itwilltransformeveryone.Andneighborisrunning.Hoʻokulāiwi–DasHow.

AHawaiianTellingaStory

Toshare,tolearn,toseek,toexplore,totransform,tolive

Fornow,forafter.

NewstoriesemergeOflaughter,struggle,pain,hope

Fromstoriesshared

YoumattertomeSoIriskitallandtellThenextaboutus

Onceuponatime

TherecameamaninaboatWelaterkilledhim

Comethesickwedie

ComethebookwedieagainCometheschool,threedeaths

Yethereweare,still

BackfromthoughtsthatweweredeadWithstoriestotell

Onceuponatime

AshyboybecameamanWithkuleana

Totellthroughachild

WhathesawandwhathedidSotheydienomore

Helpmemybrotherandsister

ThisisthestoryItellButwhatdoyouhear

(response)

Brother,thisIhear

Yourstoryspeakingtomespeakingbacktoyou.

Mahalo

Ihearittoo,ourstoriesAndmoreemerging

OnceuponthistimeAmanwithkuleana

Retellsastory

Thenhehearsavoice.AnoldsoulistellingaStorythroughachild.

DasHow?