The best years of my professional life were as a professor at University of Hawai’i — Leeward Community College. I taught linguistics and business writing courses to thousands of students, who impacted me in such profound ways. I was so lucky to have a job I loved.
One of the activities Iʻm most proud of is founding and publishing Pūpū A ‘O ‘Ewa Native Hawaiian Writing and Arts. The website has a different look and mission now, but during my time, everyone—students, faculty, staff, and community members—was invited to submit, regardless of ethnicity, and the only requirement was that the work be somehow related to Native Hawaiian culture. From 2011–2016 we published over 100 videos, music, photos, and stories. Those works are archived at Pūpū, but I think my blog is a good place to feature some of them again. The works and their creators deserve to be seen and appreciated.
One of my favorite videos is I am a Farmer, a thought-provoking and visually stunning video created by Ke Ala ʻIke Scholar Sheila Arasato and based on an original work performed by her sister, the talented Uʻilani Kumuhone. We first published this video on April 10, 2016, I asked Sheila why she revisited her sisterʻs poem. Her reply? “There was more story to tell: who you are in this ʻāina, and what are you doing to make it a better place?” Excellent questions. Mahalo nui, Sheila and Uʻilani.
Photo credit: Sheila Arasato
July 31 is Lā Hoʻi Hoʻi ʻEa in Hawaiʻi! Established by Kauikeauoli (King Kamehameha III), Sovereignty Restoration Day is a national holiday that commemorates the return in 1843 of Hawaiʻi to the rightful Hawaiian government after it was seized by the United Kingdom. He declared, “Ua mau ke ʻea o ka ʻāina i ka pono,” the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness. E mau a mau!