Kuleana...

I was very proud of my son, Kaiana Markell, for waking up in the dark to participate in honoring Pai'ea. I let him know that wearing the 'ahu'ula, mahiole, malo, and lei "palaoa" la'au and holding the 'ihe laumeki, doesn't mean you are anything special. You are special because you carry yourself with dignity and honor in humbly representing our namesake, Ka'iana Ka 'Ahu'ula and the great love he and Pai'ea shared for each other. When Ka'iana returned from his long voyage abroad where he nearly died of sickness on the ship, the Captain noted in his journal, that Kamehameha came aboard the ship upon Ka'iana's return and he and Ka'iana embraced and both openly wept profusely... I have had long conversations with Ka'iana's brother Nahiolea's mo'opuna and other 'ohana about the Battle of Nu'uanu and those who "rewrite" history for the sake of agendas. Don't believe everything you read. Use your 'ike and your na'au to discern...