Maunakea: Aloha ʻĀina Warriors

“Ke kākoʻo nei nā ʻano poʻe like ʻole i kēia ʻano kū ʻana, kū kiaʻi ʻana no ka mauna. A hiki ke ʻike ʻia nā poʻe a pau, ke aloha no, no kēia mauna. A ʻo ia ka pilina ma waena o kākou a pau,” wahi a Hāwane Rios, he wahine aloha ʻāina.

Alu like ana kēia mau koa kūpaʻa no ka mālama iā Maunakea me kona mau wahi laʻa a ʻihiʻihi loa, a pēia hoʻi kona mau kumu waiwai kaiaola kekahi.

“A pili i ka waiwai o ka wai,” wahi a Rios.

Me ia manaʻo i hui like ai ka poʻe me ka wai mai nā moku a pau o Hawaiʻi mokupuni me ka manaʻo e mahalo aku i ka mauna no kona wai ola. He hana hoʻomana nō hoʻi. Ke ʻimi nei nō kēia mau koa i ka hoʻopono me ke kū ma ke kahua paʻa o ke aloha a ke paʻa nei nō he kiʻina hana o kēlā me kēia lā.

Wahi a Rios, “Hui mākou ma ʻaneʻi a hoʻomaka me ka pule holo kekahi mau poʻe i luna ala no ka hōʻoia i ka hana ma laila. E hoʻi hou ana ma nā lā a pau a hana i kēia ʻano oli, pule, piʻi, hoʻi hou i ʻaneʻi, kūkākūkā, hālāwai, a hoʻolālā hou. No laila he kāhea kēia i nā kānaka a pau e nānā ana i kēīa, e mai hele mai kōkua.”
[/spb_tab] [spb_tab title=”English”] Aloha ʻĀina Warriors continue to “protect” Maunakea from the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Supporters are drawing attention and raising awareness for the issue.

“People from all walks of life are coming in support, because of their love for this mountain. And it’s that love for place that unifies us.” says Aloha ʻĀina Practitioner, Hāwane Rios.

These warriors stand to protect Maunakea as a sacred place, but also as a home of pristine natural resources.

“And one aspect that we value is the water of this place.” says Rios.

In appreciation of this valuable resource, water from all the districts of Hawaiʻi island were offered in ceremony. These warriors of aloha have a purpose and are settling in to their routine.

“We gather daily and start with pule. Some of us head up to the summit to ensure that construction has not restarted. We’ll be back every day to continue this work as guardians, sharing our aloha. We’ll go up. Check. Come back. Regroup. And keep planning. So we’re inviting everyone to join us, and help in whatever way you can.” says Rios.
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