Manulani Aluli Meyer [4-13-15]… “Kapu Aloha for Maunakea, a discipline of compassion”

Manulani Aluli Meyer

This is from the UH-Hilo website, after doing a quick search for her works. This is the second of three pieces on “Kapu Aloha” from her I am posting. My favorite sentence here is, “Clashing cosmologies help us know wholeness. ” Anyone recall, “partners in contrast”?

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Manulani Aluli Meyer: Kapu Aloha for Maunakea, a discipline of compassion

Mountains, along with their cultural roots in practice and inspiration, extends the central idea of “E Nihi Kahele: Maintaining a Kapu Aloha for Mauna Kea,” held at UH Hilo on April 9, 2015.

Manu Aluli Meyer addresses the audience at the recent gathering, “E Nihi Kahele: Maintaining a Kapu Aloha for Mauna Kea.” Photos by Jaysen Niedermeyer. Click photos to enlarge.

(Editor’s note: This commentary by Manu Aluli Meyer is in reference to a gathering held April 9 at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo to explore insights, practices and clarity of the current events on Maunakea. The discussion was hosted by the Hoʻokahua Project of the UH Hilo Office of the Chancellor and the Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center. )

Clashing cosmologies help us know wholeness. This is how I see the event before us. As a kanaka ʻōiwi with kupuna connection to Waiolama, Kukuau, Hilo One, and Kohala on Moku O Keawe, there is love, awe, and function to Maunakea. For this reason, mountains, along with their cultural roots in practice and inspiration extends the central idea of this summary of “E Nihi Kahele: Maintaining a Kapu Aloha for Mauna Kea,” held at UH Hilo on April 9, 2015. This two-hour community meeting attended by 80-plus people introduced the central operating principle of our Hawaiian movement: Ku Kiaʻi Mauna — to stand firm in our protection of Maunakea. This aloha ʻāina stance to remain steady is protected and instructed by a Kapu Aloha. This event brought together three wahine to discuss their insights on this process.

He Kapu Aloha

Participants engage in breakout discussions. Click to enlarge.

A Kapu Aloha is a multidimensional concept and practice inspired by our kupuna. It has been used within a Hawaiian cultural context for many years, but this may be the first time it has been brought out into a public sphere. It places a discipline of compassion on all to express aloha for those involved, especially those who are perceived to be polar to our cause. A Kapu Aloha helps us intentionalize our thoughts, words and deeds without harm to others. It honors the energy and life found in aloha — compassion — and helps us focus on its ultimate purpose and meaning. It is a synonym for ahimsa, non-violence, and peaceful consciousness. This hui wānana was called to explore cultural insights and histories to bring forward the continued clarity of why Hawaiians and environmental allies occupy Maunakea.

• See slide presentation shown at gathering: Kapu Aloha (pdf)