I ka ‘Ī

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I ka ‘Ī

Welomakua Fern

Fern tells us, "I was inspired by the riddling format of Malu Lelepali’s ‘Komo ka Wa‘a’ in Helu 7 of Kaleinamanu. The key to my own nane can be found in the story of the naming of the once-famous Kaua‘i rain, Kauaikananā. Try look."

A hua a pane a pane mai
He pane ko onei, he hoolohe ko ona,
He pane, he pane ko onei
Pehea la e lilo ai i kumu

Ma o ka hanau ia ana
Ma o ka male ana
Ma o ka noho akua ana
Ma o ka moemoea

Hookohu
Me he me la o oe ka Uaula
Hihi
Me he me la o oe o Kahihikolo
Ohi
Me he mea la o oe o Palapala

Haku wale i kuauhau
Kuai i pahu
Nakii i kihei
Noii nowelo pau na vikio i ka ike ia
Nee i Iapana
Hookahua ia kumu.com

Penei no e lilo ai i kumu
Pau loa, aohe koe a koe keia

"E waiho i na aumakua"
"E hoi ka piko hula"
Wahi a na mea ko-keka

"Ua ia kaua e ka ua
Hikikii kaua i kanana!"
Wahi a makou na kamipulu.

Aia la.

The riddle has been asked, now for an answer
I here will answer, and you there will you listen
An answer, an answer have I
To the riddle, "How does one become a kumu?"

Through birth
Through marriage
Through divine intervention
Through dreams

Pretend
As if you were the Uaula
Spread
As if you were Kahihikolo
Take
As if you were Palapala

Invent a genealogy
Buy a drum
Tie on a kihei
Delve deeply into all videos
Move to Japan
Start kumudotcom

This is how to become a kumu
All has been said except for this:

"E waiho i na aumakua"
"E hoi ka piko hula,"
So say the go-getters

"We are rained upon by the rain
Let it pour as it wills,"
So say we, the darned fools.

There you have it.

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