Here is a story for our island.
A story with as many versions as there are voices. Told in the same manner that a lei is made: Carefully gathering what is best suited to the occasion, proceeding with what we know, and weaving every strand, piercing every seed, every flower, with aloha.
This is a story for Lana'i's children. That we may know, the history hidden in each place-name, the resilience and resourcefulness that the land requires, and the priceless perfection of our place.
We hope you enjoy what we've worked hard to present. We hope that your love for Lana'i grows. Life came to Lana'i because of Kaulula'au, and whatever version you hold dear, may life, through his story, come to you.
Our deepest mahalo to our kumu and kupuna. We have heard the story because of you. Mahalo to the newspaper writers W.N. Pualewa and “P.N.,” to the oral histories recorded by Reverend Daniel Kaopuiki, Kupuna Hannah Richardson, and Kupuna Abraham Kauila. Yours are the true stories by which we measure our own. We express our sincere respect and mahalo to the families of Kaulula'au and Pahulu. To all of you, we ask: Ina ua hewa makou, e hui kala mai ia makou. 'O ka mea maika'i, malama; 'o ka mea maika'i 'ole, e ho'oka'awale 'ia aku. If we have offended, please forgive us. Keep the good that we do and set the bad aside.
In Oddah Words...
Dis one mo'olelo fo' our 'aina.
Get mo' versions of dis mo'olelo den get people wid mout. Us, we make 'em jah like one lei. Malama pono. Pick da right kind fo' da right time. Main ting: Aloha.
Dis fo da keiki. So dey know.
We hope you like 'em. Hope is good. Fo grow da aloha ah? Kaulula'au wen help den, hopefully, he help now.
An brah. MAHALO NUI LOA to all da kumus and all da kupunas. You da reason we know da story. Specially da nupepa! W.N. Pualewa. "P.N." All da tapes wid Reverend Kaopuiki dem, Tutu Hannah dem, Old Man Kauila. Dey da one know. Us, only fool around.
And den. Mahalo. Mahalo, mahalo. To Kaulula'au 'ohana, Pahulu 'ohana, you folks Maui, Molokai. If get error, please, kala mai us. If maika'i, malama. 'A'ole maika'i, trow 'em outside.
Aloha Lana'i,
Simon
