Ka Piko o Wākea
ʻO ke alanui polohiwa a Kāne ma ka ‘Ākau, ʻo ke alanui polohiwa a Kanaloa ma ka Hema, ʻo ke ala ‘ula a Kāne ma ka Hikina, ʻo ke alanui maʻawe ʻula a Kanaloa ma ke Komohana, a ʻo ka piko o wakea ma waena, ʻo ia kahi a nā holokai o ka Huakaʻi Holo Puni Honua i kāʻalo aku ai iā lākou e iho ana i Tahiti, me ke aloha aku i nā akua, nā aumakua, me nā kūpuna o ka wā ma mua.
Between the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western skies lies Ka-piko-o-Wākea – the navel of Wākea (Sky Father), also known as the equator. The Hōkūleʻa crew recently passes this area on their way to Tahiti, and offered gifts of cultural remembrance.
“ʻO kēia ka makamua o ke kāʻalo ʻana i ka piko o Wākea. No laila lawe aku i ka wai mai ka Mauna a Wākea mai, he wahi piko a Wākea nō ia hoʻokupu ʻia ʻana ka wai ma ka piko o Wākea ma ka moana, mau ana nō ka hoʻomana ana paha iā ia ka hoʻomaopopo ana iā ia i kona mau hana a pēlā aku. He wahi ʻano mahalo kekahi kēia iā Wākea. Hoʻokupu pū ʻia kekahi mau pōhaku i lawe ʻia mai ka paeʻāina o Hawaiʻi. A ʻo kēia kahi hoʻomanaʻo pōkole no nā hana holokai o ka wā ma mua, a hoʻomaopopo no nā kuleana kuʻuna o kēia au.
Being that this is the first time that some of us will be crossing Ka-piko-o-Wākea, we thought to bring water from Mauna-a-Wākea as an offering. It symbolizes our continued indigenous practice and mahalo to Wākea. Stones were brought from all over Hawaiʻi, and were offered as gifts. This small ceremony was done in honor of past and future indigenous sailors,” said Hikianalia watch captain and apprentice navigator Kaleo Wong.
No nā kūmole a ʻikepili no ka Huakaʻi Holo Puni Honua, ʻo Mālama Honua, ma ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi!
