Hawaiian Word of the Week: mo'olelo

I’ve always been interested in history or mo’olelo (pronounced: moe-oh-leh-low). This week marks the 82nd anniversary of the attack at Pearl Harbor. When I do visit Oahu, I make sure to make the trip and visit and pay respect to those soldiers who lost their lives there. 

The last trip I made to Pearl Harbor a few years ago, I remember that I was lucky enough to meet one of the last living survivors of that attack. Well into his 90’s at this point, he was frail but was more than accommodating in meeting people and recounting his experience of that day, December 7, 1941, knowing that he was very much a part of Hawaii’s mo’olelo. 

Have you ever reflected on your own mo’olelo? My grandfather fought in the Pacific in WWII, albeit not in Pearl Harbor, but he was a survivor of the Baatan Death March….and I was extremely grateful to have had him in my life for a handful of years before his passing. For me, I was well into adulthood when the attack on the World Trade Center happened in 2001. But knowing that almost 8 billion people weren’t alive who experienced the uncertainty the world felt when that happened blows my mind. 

As time continues to move forward, we are quickly losing those people who lived through major experiences. But at the same time, capturing the stories even of our own family or friend’s mo’olelo is critical…before it is too late. 

How are you capturing your own personal mo’olelo for future generations?

Our ohana on Maui still needs us. Please consider donating to help the relief efforts on Maui.

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