Aloha

Aloha

By Steve

The waves crash onto the shore

Reminding those who live here not to leave

Why would they want to leave such a place

Where so many others yearn to be?

A place where soft summer breezes

And warm winter nights

Are two sides of a coin

One that is made of coral

The bountiful waters from the tops of volcanoes

Give the hillsides and valleys life

Lush and green, full of fruits and nuts

Down to the sea those waters rush

Down to the sea with fish of all kinds

Ahi, Aku, ōpae kalaʻole and other delights

Enough not simply to sustain life

But to make a daily feast

Outsiders tried to kill the native tongue

But they didn't realize the language

Was much more than the spoken word

The chants and the dance kept the culture alive

The celebration of life is handed down

From generation to generation

Only those born on the islands

Fully grasp the subtle meaning of each hula movement

So with pride and a little defiance

They remain on these islands

Feeling the presence of their ancestors

And preparing life for their children and their children's children.