Hinamalaelena Ioane

ʻĀina Lani 

A fairy’s memoir of heavenly earth

1.

Wispy breath mingles in Lālākea 
cold morning air – hot 
honey dipped māmaki steam 
remedy the tired soul. 
ʻAhu nymphs love 
kapu kai mornings, 
ceremonious awakea, 
and foreshadowing sunsets. 

2.

Guardrail ʻiliʻili are moved 
by alae rivers, ʻiʻiwi canoes, 
tiger shark waves, and merry music. 
Language pollen strictly pollinates
mother tongues – ʻāpaʻakuma wings.
Cloud pigs chased by a pack of dogs
squeal melodies of impending downpour 

3.

Kānemilohae’s river pumps 
in labyrinths under mountains, 
some moʻo palace mixed
in the shadow people tubes. 
Wai breaks, bends, and blunts 
the dense rigid stone –
Moʻopuna of moʻokūʻauhau 
flow through the rigid word “century.”

4.

ʻĀina, the house of koʻi claws 
carve me by Mauna Kea hands – sweet 
lehua nectar filled heart.
Angels from the house of ʻĀina 
ring your line, bliing bliing
your 6th great grandmother
“Aloha e kuʻu dahlin sweet.”

5.

Tūtū Kane’s songs 
taste like kēhau droplets for breakfast,
kēwai leftovers and honey cakes.

6.

Great grand godly aunties
love a good baked ʻaha 
with a cup of ʻawa 
followed by enchanted champagne 
and expensive wine.

7.

Magic can jump realms 
through the four pillars of the earth. 
Stardust flecked bones 
remember where they come from. 

8. 

Pō is the womb and the tomb. 
The life of a fairy is in between. 

He kamaʻāina ʻo Makakapu Ioane na ke kauhale o Keaukaha, Hilo, Hawaiʻi Kuauli. Nāna nō i noho a haumāna ma ke kula kaiāpuni ʻo Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo ma kona wā ʻōpio. Ua puka kula ʻo ia mai ke kula kiʻekiʻe ʻo Kamehameha ma Keaʻau, Moku o Keawe. Aia ʻo ia i Oʻahualua ke noho nei i kēia manawa e hoʻokō ana i ka palapala BA no ka mēkia Haʻawina Hawaiʻi, Moʻolelo ʻŌiwi. He aloha ʻāina. Aloha nō.