MAKUA Hula Oni E

Makua, parent or from my own interpretation, ‘at the back.’ I love supporting friends and family from the back.

Makua is the word I’m using now for my band name which is called Makua Band.

Makua is such an important word for me and I’ve had so many wonderful experiences learning and being a model of this word. In 1996, after graduating from college, I worked at a small community health center in Waimanalo. It was there I worked under Kawaikapu Hewett. The program he created was called Ku I Ka Māna. This program was a cultural mentoring program which focused on placing Makua, parents/elders into Waimanalo elementary school and having them spiritually, mentally and physically support children. It was here I learned about the word māna. Māna is masticated food which the makua, parent would chew and breakdown food in their mouth and place that food into a babies mouth. Hewett grouped this word māna and it’s action to express teaching good values to our youth. From this experience working with Hewett in Waimanalo, I could learn about my own kuleana to my family, to my friends and to my haumana (students). Let’s all continue to be the best Makua for our keiki.