Hāwane Rios Instagram – For Mauinuiakama, with love 💗 Yesterday marked six months since the wind caught the fires in the lands of Malu ‘Ulu o Lele. Six months since over a hundred souls flew on the wings of Ka‘upu to the embrace of legions of ancestors. Since thousands lost their homes, family members, beloved friends, pets, and everything they gathered on their journey in this lifetimes. Auē ka mānewanewa Auē ke kani‘uhū Auē ka maka‘ūpē Auē ka lu‘ulu‘u kaumaha Auē ke aloha piha iā ‘oukou, e ko Lahaina mā You are the welo of your kūpuna in the most beautiful and profound of ways. It is seen and it is so deeply felt. Hawai‘i Island and Maui has pilina that stretches across all time and space. Born from the same goddess and the same heat, our mountains are family. We are family. The bones of my and Hopoe’s ancestors are in the lands of Lahaina. Our children’s beloved Uncle lost his home and boat in the fires and has spent the last months working tirelessly in the burn zone. We are connected by more than the nāulu cloud bridge from summit to summit. We are connected by spirit and by sacred commitments of the soul. We followed the protocols and waited to be asked to come to Maui. We went to listen, to pule, give ho‘okupu, be of service, and hold space in a humble and quiet way. We went to be with our sisters, our friends, our loved ones to sing to together, cry together; and laughter together too. This moment here with @hititkapizzle, @dpkaleiopu, @ethankaleiopu and our beautiful tita @tiare_lawrence along with their ‘ohana was so…Hawai‘i, so tenderly Maui, so…us . This ‘ohana lost their ‘ohana home in Lahaina that has been there for many, many generations. Sitting with them and listening to their mo’olelo, their ‘eha kūmākena, and their kūpa‘a mau i ke aloha was truly indescribable and remains with me every day. He Hawai‘i nō ia. In the wake of this heartbreaking tragedy and the injustice and negligence of care and humanity that has ensued since, the people have continued to sing and have continued to stand. Maui shouldn’t have to be fighting for rights and basic human care. Maui should be cared for like how Maui cares for each other. I stand with you now & forever