Search - Sonny Ching :: Ho'oulu I Ka Na'auao-To Grow In Wisdom

Hawaiian Chants. These chants and the mo`olelo incorporated within them are invaluable aspects of Native Hawaiian culture. They help create a foundation for our identities as Native Hawaiian people that is based on an indigneous culture. The stories that are told within these chants bind us together-the past within the present. We, as Native Hawaiians establish our strength and our endurance through the voices of ancient Hawai`i. We've joined our past with thepresent by bringing life to these chants, and we will continue to perpetuate the knowledge passed onto us from our ancestors for future generations. These chants signify the importance of one's family and ancestors, historically grounding Hawaiian to the chants through our bloodlines and our geneology. Through these chants, we become linked to the powerful akua, to the great ali`i, to the land, to the ocean, and to all Native Hawaiians. Chants continue to be an important part of Hawaiian culture. They are used to honor all aspects of our culture. The circle that intertwines past, present, and future brings us a sense of being pono, or balance, within our lives. The fact that these chants have survived throughout the many years that have passed since our great ali`i walked the earth is a testament to the strength of our Native Hawaiian culture. It is a spiritual link to our past that creates an unbreakable bond to our ancestors. -Nohea Kawahakui