nana ka maka

"Nana ka maka,"

the kupuna say.

The winds of the āliapa`akai are ceaseless.

Lono sends missives to Hi`iaka, ones

she never receives. Kaua`i men gather

the salt of his aqueous messages in

ha`apa`akai o ka lehu `ula- as the

sun climbs in the sky, words effloresce

in their pools, from the sea onto

compacted red dirt. Furious,

Hi`iaka spits gusts - incessant, forceful,

unsalted and dry. Men hold the gods' will

in cupped hands, gathering with avid eyes.

You see, child, this is our past. Watch

with your eyes, the kupuna say.

In everything there is mo`olelo, deep

and grand. When all is in memory,

your ho`omana`o`ana,

everything is clear. but

for now, child, aloha`ia,

hiki mai e ka lā ma ma`ane`i -

the sun sets here.