Pua Case of the Flores-Case 'Ohana (Family) is Kumu Hula of Halau Hula Ke'alaonamapua in Hilo, Hawaii. She is one of six petitioners, in an ongoing contested case hearing, inspired to take a stand for Mauna Kea. Pua's Hawaiian ancestors are from Kohala. While in Hawaii, I saw that Pua was doing a workshop teaching a hula for Poli'ahu. She is doing this to educate what is proposed for the northern plateau of Mauna Kea, and to tell us what we can do about it. Below is Pua Case speaking about her connection to the mountain.
"Mauna a Wakea (Mountain of Wakea) is the name reverberated by the ancestors and spirits connected to this mountain due to its summit standing majestically above the cloud stratum in the heavenly realms of Wakea (Sky Father) who is personified in the atmosphere that envelops Papahanaumoku (Mother Earth). It is this sacred mountain, also known as Mauna a Kea or Mauna Kea, who is being threatened today with further desecration on a colossal scale with the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project to construct another observatory on this summit. If the TMT is constructed on this mountain, it will be the tallest building on this island at over 180 feet (18 stories) sitting on this sacred summit.
As a chanter, dancer, Kumu Hula (instructor) and cultural practitioner, I have held many formal ceremonies up on the pu'u (hilltops) of Waimea. Each ceremony begins with facing Mauna Kea and gathering the breath and heartbeat of the mountain within our bodies. As the sacredness and immensity of it's vibration fills me and each dancer standing by my side, we honor the mountain's beauty and cultural importance of understanding such elements as the connection between water sources that flow from the mountain to the sea. This year I have found myself on the Mauna itself many times, a place where I chant from above the clouds to greet my daughter, Hawane, currently working in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands on Kure Atoll.
Another primary reason my family chose to contest this
case hearing was due to the prompting of my youngest daughter whom we have found to be gifted in both seeing and communicating with the ancestral guardian spirits, a practice known to their kupuna (elders and ancestors), but silenced over time.
Our usual practice as a family is to present offerings to the mo'owahine, Manaua, guardian spirit of the rain in Waimea especially in times of drought. Our daughter first expressed that she could see her and speak with her. She informed me one day that another mo'owahine was visiting from Mauna Kea's Lake Waiau, her name being Mo'oinanea. As we left, she paused asking me to wait. Listening, she stated that Mo'oinanea was asking if I could try one more time.
When I asked her what she meant, she explained that she was asking if I could try to stop the telescope from being built, but that if I could not, it was okay. She expressed many of her concerns to us that day about the existing observatories and proposed further desecration on the mountain with the new project. Because of my own childhood experiences I never doubted my daughter, although initially, I was fearful about sharing the information beyond our own family. I have since dedicated myself to this sacred temple, our mauna, Mauna a Wakea, Mauna Kea.
My eldest daughter, Hawane Rios, was inspired to write a mele (song) entitled Poli'ahu i Ke Kapu as a tribute to Poli'ahu, the snow goddess of Mauna Kea and the song has become a symbol of the aloha that runs deep in their hearts for the mountain. The song speaks of the natural beauty of Mauna Kea and compares the snowfall, bright stars, soft clouds, cool mist, and mountain itself to this divine goddess.
Hawane sang this mele at the court hearing as her testament to the mountain. It has since been recorded and released as a digital single on iTunes and other online music stores with all proceeds being donated to the Mauna Kea Legal Defense Fund to protect the sacred and cultural landscape on this mountain. In addition, I choreographed a hula for this mele and have been teaching it in workshops.
Being involved in a public case for the first time has been challenging but at the same time it has transformed my entire family. They are honored to stand firm in the deepest of Aloha with their fellow petitioners and supporters. For the mountain and for our future, I urge other songwriters, poets, storytellers, songbirds, dancers, chanters and artists, especially the young people: if you have a song in your heart - don't be afraid to sing it. This is a pivotal time. The mountain has simply provided for us the means to grow and to become stronger, remaining in alignment with truth, raising our consciousness and acting in the best interest for the highest benefit for all."
Here's what you can do:
- Become knowledgeable of the significance of Mauna Kea by visiting the website: http://www.mauna-a-wakea.info/
- Become activated in your own way. Whatever it means. Writing letters to the editor at the Hawaii Tribune Herald (local paper) - stating your support of all mountains, all streams, our natural environment or simply ask if we really need another telescope on a volcanic island?
- Contribute to organizations such as KAHEA - Hawaiian Environmental Alliance or Mauna Kea Legal Defense Fund.
- Go to iTunes or other online music stores to purchase the song Poli'ahu i ke kapu for only 99¢.
* Mo'oinanea. Through oral traditions, she is the guardian of the waters of Lake Waiau, a glacial lake that sits near the summit of Mauna Kea. This lake collects the first rainfall and snowfall that falls from the heaven on this island.
