He Moʻolelo No Koʻu Kīkā
In a recent video-hug (click to see the video) produced by HILT as a mahalo for faithful supporters, people noticed a koa guitar that I played as part of my tribute. Inquiries about such a prized possession predictably prompt a tale of pride and passion. My story relates directly to HILTʻs strategic objective to connect people to the ʻāina we protect and steward. Such efforts help all we engage to grasp the importance of fostering the vitality of treasured landscapes and are particularly crucial for kanaka maoli who endeavor to sustain their identity.
My distinctiveness as a native Hawaiian is rooted in my kinship with the lands of Hawaiʻi Nei. This intimate relationship stirs a palpable need and powerful yearning to:
nestle in the comforting embrace of gentle trade winds;
stand humbly in the majesty of mountains that reach out to touch the heavens;
linger in the fragrant scent of lush ʻōhiʻa forests;
move in rhythm to the sweet songs of native birds;
immerse myself in the refreshing coolness of streams that bring life to our land;
swell with gratitude when I cast my eyes upon the beauty and bounty of fertile plains that host and grant eternal rest to the iwi of my kūpuna;
satisfy the ʻono of my palate by partaking of delectable morsels made of the landʻs wealth;
witness the godly awe of eruptive volcanic activity while it oozes new ʻāina;
bask in the warmth and familiarity of the sands of my birth as they are tirelessly lapped by the waves of a generous and temperate ocean.
HILT Board Member, Neil Hannahs at home with his guitar.
These values are hard-wired in the DNA I have inherited from ancestors who once walked these same lands and exhaled the breath of life that I am now privileged to draw. I am born with this nature and it has been nurtured...or eroded...by my own life experiences. I strive to fulfill the kuleana to be mindful of this worldview, as the consequences of allowing erasure of oneʻs identity are profound. With each lost connection and abandoned cultural practice, a piece of who I am as a keiki o ka ʻāina goes missing...I have less to pass on to my heirs...and I jeopardize the birthright of my descendants to the wondrous cultural uniqueness that I now cherish.
My K26ce instrument was made by Taylor Guitars of koa from Kamehameha Schools land in Hōnaunau. The wood was harvested by Paniolo Tonewoods, with whom I collaborate to demonstrate the efficacy of reinvesting the value generated by commercial use of resources to fund conservation strategies that will restore native forest health and abundance.
The provenance of the koa that has been molded into my guitar makes many significant connections for me. The instrument transports my spirit to the belt of forest that resides above Konaʻs coffee farms. My senses rejoice in memories of how that place made me feel and my mind recalls our epiphany that its true worth could not be measured in dollars. My guitar also triggers a realization that aspects of my character have been forged in the same rugged landscape that formed the crucible in which South Kona chiefs mentored and groomed King Kamehameha for leadership. And it motivates me to follow the example set by Ke Aliʻi Pauahi, who ensured that these wahi pana and resources would be available for the perpetual benefit of her people.
My bonds to these lands and this koa fortify my link in a long and esteemed genealogical chain. All of these values, memories and emotions are embodied in the guitar that I will pass on in my ʻohana with ardent hopes that future generations will be moved to sustain these connections.
— Neil J. Kahoʻokele Hannahs