Passing of Ali’i Sir David Parker, KGCK

Brook Kapukuniahi Parker: Our father was a man of many talents, art and Hawaiian history just a few of these, a devout man of faith, he loved God and his fellow man. He was also a gifted writer and storyteller, this is one of his poems he wrote eloquently describing his wahi pana or sacred places from which he has family ties. Mahalo piha to Kawika Burgess for his Hawaiian translation.

`0 au ka `Apa`apa’a o Kohala
e ho`okapalili ana i ka hulu o ka `ahu`ula `owelawela o na ali’i `ele’eleu e noho ha’aheo ana kokoke i ko lakou mau wa’a makaukau loa no ke kaua.
`O au ka noe anuanu o Manaiole
e ho’opuni ana i na pali o Mauna Kea i ke auinala,
e ho’okena ana i ka makewai o na
ulu koa uluwehiwehi.
`O au ke Alanuihaha pikipiki’o,
`e’a’a ana i na mea a pau
e ho’a’o ana e `a’e i kona kuleana,
a e ho’omakana ana i ka ma’alea a me ke koa wale no.
`O au na pu’ua’ala o Ulupalakua
e ku ka’awale ana ma uka o Haleakala,
me ka maka’ewa’ewa i ke kula hahana o Makena ma lalo loa.
`O au ka punawai o Palama,
e ho’opa’i ana i ka wai o ke ola
i hanai ai na kuppuna o O’ahu,
E ha’awi ana ia lakou i ke ku’oko’a a me ka mana.
`O au ke kau wela malie ma Kalihi, kahi a na akua I ho’akoakoa mai ai I na kanaka mai na lahui like ‘ole mai, e noho like me ke aloha like kekahi. I kekahi `O ia kahi I ‘a’e ‘ia ka maluhia e na hana ma Pu’uloa.
`O au ka nahele `o Kaneohe, kahi aka wai mona e ho’oulu nui ana I ke kalo.
A pa’a pu ke kai ina I’a he nui e ho’olako ‘ana 
i ko O’ahu. 
`O au ia mau mea a pau, a ma muli o keia,
`O au ka hua o ka wa ma mua, ke kumula’au o keia au, a me ke a’a o ka wa e hiki mai ana.
`O au no keia.
(Ode by David P. Parker)

I am the constant wind of Kohala
That rustles the bright cape feathers
Of the turbulent chiefs that proudly
Reside there next to their ever
ready war canoes.
I am the cold wet mist of Manaiole
That quietly envelops the slopes of 
Mauna Kea in the late afternoon,
Gently sustaining the thirst of the verdant koa forests.
I am the restless Alanuihaha Channel,
Indiscreetly challenging all that
attempt to violate her kuleana, rewarding only the skillful and the brave.
I am the fragrant rolling hills of Uluplakua isolated high on the slopes of Haleakala, viewing with cool disdain the hot dry plains of Makena far below.
I am the bubbling springs of Palama,
Bringing forth from the earth the waters of life that has sustained Oahu’s ancestors, blessing them with independence and power.
I am the warm quiet summer of Kalihi, a place where akua placed many men from many nations together, to live in harmony and mutual respect. Where an innocent world was violated by the events of Pu’uloa.
I am the fertile green crescent that is Kane’ohe, where the sweet waters bring forth taro in abundance and the salt waters bring forth multitudes of fish and O’ahu is made rich.
I am all of these, and because of this, I am the fruit of the past, the tree standing in the present and the root of the future.
This is who I am.

Me ka ha’aha’a,