Ka’u mau keiki
Holo! Holo!
Holo i ke kai!
Aia ma luna ou ka hanu o ka deragona,
Ua hoʻolapalapa kona huhū i kou mau ʻāina kapu.
Holo! Holo!
Holo i ke kai!
Mai hina. Mai hāʻule.
E hoʻolohe i ke kāhea ʻana.
E hoʻolohe i ka hāʻule ʻana o ka hāmau.
Manaʻo nā ʻuhane makamae i ka pahi kaua a ka Reaper.
Holo! Holo!
Holo i ke kai!
Kāhea nā koholā iā ʻoe
nā honu a me nā nalu,
e hahai ia lakou a hiki i ka hohonu.
Holo! Holo!
Holo i ke kai!
ma hope ou, hamau a me ka mea ole.
Ua nalowale ka Paradaiso.
Translation:
My children
Run! Run!
Run to the sea!
The dragon’s breath is upon you,
His anger has boiled over your holy lands.
Run! Run!
Run to the sea!
Don’t fall. Don’t fall.
Heed the call.
Listen to the silence fall.
Precious souls feel the Reaper’s sword.
Run! Run!
Run to the sea!
The whales are calling you
turtles and waves,
follow them to the bottom.
Run! Run!
Run to the sea!
behind you, silence and nothingness.
Paradise is lost.
About the Poem
The tragedy in Maui is without words. It is apocalyptic, and we are only beginning to see its impact on lives and loss. This poem is written in Hawaiian, and I have offered a translation. As many who read this, my heart aches for the people of Hawaiian, where I once lived.
About the Author
Dale Hensarling is an artist, author, and musician living in Phoenix, where he teaches. He lives with his puppies and a parrot named Pongo. He received his MFA from Lindenwood University, and his work is found in many places online.