Hawaiian Supermom

In Hawaii, there is a saying amongst my people.

“Ola i ka wai.”

The phrase, or ‘olelo no’eau simply means: water is life.

To us Kanaka Maoli– (aboriginal Hawaiian people) water has always been regarded as valuable. The word wai itself means wealth therefore, lands that held bodies of fresh water were reserved for the Ali’i or royalty.

Unlike today, water was held at the highest importance and its conservation was strictly enforced. H2O was rerouted by Ali’i, who were also highly intelligent and skilled engineers. Rivers and streams were redirected into complex taro fields so that farmers could grow their food and supply their families with sustenance.

I was reminded of my history when I saw the name of the organization who produced this film.

No, it’s not Hawaiian.

Yes, it’s a commercial for WaterIsLife, a charity that helps thousands of people but that’s good, right? And it makes you think about the words, “first world problems,” which is another plus.

So yeah, without further ado: