Members of Hālau Mōhala ‘ilima's Papa Hi‘ikua ‘Ehā were met at Ulupō by Kaleo Wong who assigned them to work crews for the task of "hull ka lima i lalo" – of turning the hands down to engage with the ‘āina in time-honored, dirty-nailed fashion. Some, like Ke‘alohi Reppun, were not at all unfamiliar with the rewards of caring for Hāloa; others, like Nobumi Urakami, were at first hesitant then grateful for the new experience. After all, how can one truly chant and dance about this land without having sunk oneʻs hands and feet deep in its soil. -- Kihei de Silva
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