IAO VALLEY
By Domenic Scozzafava

 

You’re not the chief

of this island.  

You don’t own this land

because you are not the chief.

This sand

holds a spiritual connection to our Hawaiian ancestors.

It’s our kuleana to respect

the island and its beaches.  

We should embrace but, we neglect

others who want to learn about our culture.  

Let us educate them about what our ancestors

did and how they lived.

We shouldn’t syndicate our culture

to only locals.

We should spread aloha to everyone

so we can be stronger in the long run.