I tēnei rā whakahirahira o ngā moananui, ānei rā aku TINO mihi ki o tātau whanaunga i runga i a HōkūIe’a runga i a Hikianalia. Mā Ranginui, mā Tāwhirimātea, mā Tangaroa, mā Hinemoana koutou e manaaki, e tieki, i runga i ngā ara o o tātau tīpuna. Nā koutou i whakarongo, i whakahoki ki te karanga a Hinemoana kia tū mai tātau, kia mau ki ngā taonga heke iho hei ara tōtika, hei tauira mā tātau katoa. Nō reira e ngā karere o Kiwa… ka mau te wehi – haere pai atu, hoki pai mai.
Island Wisdom, Ocean Connections, Global Lessons
On this day, World Oceans Day, I would like to acknowledge the incredible work of the Polynesian Voyaging Society in raising awareness about the health of our oceans. We are people of the sea. It was the cry of our oceans that set me on this path, and it is the cry of the oceans that these incredible voyagers have responded to in the most profound and inspiring of ways. Since the 1970s our Kanaka Maoli whanau have worked tirelessly to restore our voyaging traditions, and that is a call that resounded across the pacific to many of their relations and to is in Aotearoa. A few years ago a flotilla from across the pacific set sail to circumnavigate the Pacific, and carry the message of our obligation to care for our oceans. Now they are taking that message even further and circumnavigating the globe. The voyage is called Mālama Honua, which means to care for our Earth, and they will carry this vital message of the need to protect our natural and cultural treasures across 47,000 nautical miles, 85 ports, and 26 countries.
Travel well, dear cousins, Uncles, Aunties. Bear the call of Hinemoana across the oceans, gather the tide of humanity to answer her call, to live to our fullest potential as consciously loving children of Papatūānuku. May the stars and tides guide you true, may the winds favour you, may Hinemoana and Tangaroa care for you and bring you home safely to your whānau. Mauri taiao, Mauri tangata, Mauri Ora.
shot sis. MALAMA YO MAMA