Hāwane Rios Instagram – ‘alaneo the sky was kāla‘e not a cloud in the heavens for as far as we could see it reminded me of our childhood only now getting accustomed to living in the east again to seeing this view of my mountain again feeling both far and close more close than far the world of people has always broken my heart and inspired just me as much but my mountain has always been unshakable and only moves when she chooses kū kia‘i mauna to embody the protection of the mountain to live in reflection of her image of her soul of her heart i choose this life the one that is dedicated to loving my land and becoming unshakable like she is i know my truth i know my heart i know my integrity and i know the close circle i stand with that stand consistently lovingly fiercely they have my respect forever our children are being raised by people who are brave who are courageous powerful healing growing unlearning relearning who are willing to shift and change and face intergenerational healing like we face the realities of the frontlines no matter what no matter how hard this journey has been i give thanks because this mountain brought me home to myself in ways my ancestors prayed she would i’ve been lost and found along the way made missteps and learned from them i’ve been hurt and have caused hurt he kanaka wale nō au a human i indeed am i have learned the discipline of accountability and have found profound self love in speaking up for myself in cutting cords with people that don’t align with my spirit yes, it hurts and yes, it liberates social media is but one part of my layered and beautifully complex life aloha ‘āina is my heart and it not my entire life it is a foundational part of who i am and not all of me i give myself permission to be all of me it fills my soul to claim that for myself i’m in my mid thirties raising three children with my beloved i’m not a young roots radical kid anymore alas that fire is still there it just sits with the old fire more and more i’m a proud wahine Hawai‘i i love my land i love my language i love being born Kanaka i love Hawai‘inuiākea i love and will forever stand for Mauna a Wākea Puu Huluhulu