Synopsis: The Hawaiian language community mourns the loss of another steadfast proponent. 'Ānelalani DeRego, a long-time employee of the 'Aha Pūnana Leo, lost her battle with cancer last week at her family home in Wahiawā. One of her close friends and fellow Hawaiian language student, Kainani Kahaunaele, has composed a kanikau, or lamentation chant, in honor of her life.

———

Aloha e Laiana a me Kekeha,

Lu'ulu'u Hilo i ka ua nui i ka hala 'ana o kahi hoa 'auamo 'ōlelo Hawai'i 'o 'Ānela DeRego i ho'i akula i ke aumoe nei i ka hale o ka 'ohana i Wahiawā. Ua ku'u akula ka luhi kino i pau i ka ma'i'a'ai. Ua komo like māua i ka papahana 'ōlelo/ha'awina Hawai'i ma Hilo nei a ua lilo ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i, 'o ia ke ala o ke ola. He limahana 'o ia no ka 'Aha Pūnana Leo mai ka wā mai a māua e noho haumāna ana he 12 a 'oi paha makahiki. E 'olu'olu e ho'olaha i ku'u kanikau i haku iho nei nona ke loa'a kahi kū'ono.

Lu'ulu'u Hilo i ka ua nui

Aloha nui 'oe e 'Ānelalani

Kahi hoa i 'imi like i ka na'auao

E mālamalama ai ko kāua lāhui aloha

'Ike akula 'oe i ka 'īnea me ka pōmaika'i

E noho mehameha au i 'Ūpēloa

I ka ulu lehua kau maka

Auē ku'u hoa o ka pūnana manu

He haili 'ōpua no ke Kanilehua

'O 'oe ka lehua o ka ēulu pipili ka lani

I ka lani 'oe i ho'i aku ai

E maha i ke apo pumehana o ka Makua

Eia mākou ke waiho nei me ke kūmākena

Ma nā kahawai lau a'o Hilo

Puīa ke 'ala o ka pīkake i La'iakeha

Kau keha i ka poli Waiākea i ka Uluau

Ku'u hoa kāmau kī'aha waina 'ula'ula

Ka loea ho'i o ka 'enehana kamepiula

Ma nā kihi 'ehā o ka honua

I pā aku ai ko 'ike no ka 'ōlelo makuahine

Ua ahuwale nā ki'owai o Kūlanihāko'i

Wahine kele honua ma nā 'ale o ka moana nui a Kāne

Ha'alele aku i ke one wali o 'Ōhele

O hele 'oe i ke ala ho'i 'ole mai

'Ele'ele Hilo ho'opanopano i ka ua

Ua pulupē ka nahele o Pana'ewa

Me nā lehua o Mokupane

Aloha nō ka pua hiwahiwa o Wahiawā

Kahi mo'opuna aloha na Ka'iliponi

Uluwehi Leilehua i ko kipona aloha

Ku'u akula ka luhi kino

E holo 'oe i ke kai kā'ili lā i Lehua

Me ou mau kūpuna e noho aku ai

Aloha nō ka makani i lawe lilo i ku'u hoa

Ku'u hoa i minamina nui 'ia e ka nui manu

Auē ku'u hoa ē!

Aloha nō ho'i 'oe lā ē!

— na Kainani Kahaunaele

4 Iune 2009.

Ke hā'awi pū aku nei nā luna o Kauakūkalahale i ko mākou aloha i ka 'ohana o 'Ānelalani. Na ke Akua nō 'o ia e mālama mau.

———

E ho'ouna 'ia mai nā leka iā māua, 'o ia ho'i 'o Laiana Wong a me Kekeha Solis ma ka pahu leka uila ma lalo nei:

» .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

» .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

a i ‘ole ia, ma ke kelepona:

» 956-2627 (Laiana)

» 956-2624 (Kekeha)

This column is coordinated by the Hawaiian Language Department at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, supported by the Initiative for Achieving Native Hawaiian Academic Excellence.