Back in Mid-January, Blake Conant asked me if I had "a little pule to share" for the ECORA meeting in Maryland. "Something thankful to Akua (God) and in sync with the paddling community." I responded immediately with these:

FIRST, give thanks to Akua. The prayer to Akua is to acknowledge that he is the one true God (remember? "Thou shalt have no other gods before me"?). By giving thanks and acknowledging Akua first, you are saying that you love Akua, and that what you do next is only to acknowledge Hawaiian tradition.

THEN, you may do an oli to the four main Hawaiian gods: Ku, the god of war and the male generating power; Kane the god of sunlight, fresh water, and natural life; Lono, the god of peace, fertility, winds, rain and sports; and Kanaloa the god of the ocean. Please note, that technically, Hawaiian tradition calls for a pule to be given before every voyage. No matter how short. Also, it is said that Kanaloa was originally evil and that he was later given positive attributes. Some might say he STILL has a mean streak! That said, I now share these pule with my aloha:

This pule I offered in my email regarding the January outrigger tragedy:

KA PULE NO MALUMALU

Ka malamalama o ke Akua e ho`opuni mai ia kakou,

(The light of God surrounds us,)

Ke aloha o ke Akua e kipuni mai ia kakou,

(The love of God enfolds us,)

Ka mana o ke Akua e ho`opakele mai ia kakou,

(The power of God protects us,)

Ke alo o ke Akua e malama mai ia kakou,

(The presence of God watches over us,)

Ma kahi a kakou, e hele aku ai he Akua no.

(Wherever we are, God is.)

Amene.

(Amen.)

This is the same oli I did at the SECOND annual Liberty Challenge:

KA HOLO ANA

O Ku ke kupuna o ka wa`a,

(O Ku the ancestor of the canoe,)

E ae mai i ka mahalo o kakou.

(Accept our grattitude.)

O Kane o ke ao holo`oko`a,

(O Kane of the universe,)

E ho`omakaukau i na hoku iloko o ka lani.

(Prepare the stars in the heavens.)

E Lono o na ao e ho`alaneo ka lani,

(O Lono of the clouds,)

E ho`akaka na hoku alaka`i.

(Clear the heavens.)

Moakaka na hoku alaka`i

(Make clear the guiding stars)

E Kanaloa o ke kai.

(O Kanaloa of the sea.)