A.L.O.H.A

 I was born purple, premature and with the planets Venus and Jupiter in the 11th House Sagittarius. According to one of my earliest teacher, Ruby Kawena Johnson, my Polynesian kupuna did not reckon the heavens as I do with these same markers or interpretations. But Ruby is a great proponent of a global migration story: we humans are all related.

This peace of story began as I reflected on the meaning of the word Aloha given to us by Aunty Pilahi Paki. Naming each letter in this most valuable source of life, my reflection was on the final “a”. Ahonui. Over the long (nui) cord (aho) or over the cord of time or measurement of time. Here is where our two teachers—Ruby Kawena Johnson and Pilahi Paki come together in my core spot of intelligence (my na’au) to flesh out meaning for me. An interpretation is coming into being for me. I am digesting a long in coming knowing.

Ruby introduced me to the knotted cord and it’s global presence as a measuring tool. Measuring time. Measuring distance. Made from durable fibers of cordage such as Yucca in the Mexican cultures, olona and la’i in Polynesia, the tying of knots (knotted cord)in simple and extraordinarily complex knots for practical and sacred geometry brings me to the Ahonui of the final A in the utterance of Aloha.

Viewed as an expression an experiential intelligence to meet life (every day in every way)aloha is one more example of how language the orally conveyance is a mindful and meaningful knotted cord. 

A. L. O. H. A. It is just after midnight and perhaps now I can sleep. It has been a long day and night. A place has been made for my reflections and digestion is happening. Release comes. Mahalo nui na kupuna.