December 3, 2020

“To find a career that has me
helping other people and healing ʻāina.”

Kekai Mahiʻai balances on a ladder as he hoists the tent frame into position.  An uncle shoves the steel pole into a three-prong connector as Kekai secures it.

Many hands begin to lift and carry the skeletal structure into place.  Kekai is already moving.  No one has to ask or tell him what needs to be done.  He is like a disciplined athlete.  Observing.  Anticipating.  Quickly moving into position.

Kekai has been an ʻĀina Corps Intern through Kupu at Hoʻoulu ʻĀina for nearly the past two months and before that he was a volunteer.  He was hired to continue the practice of mālama ʻāina through the organic gardening and native reforestation programs.

Kekai’s connection to ʻāina runs deep.  As a graduate of Hālau Kū Mana and a hula dancer of Kawika Mersberg’s hālau, Kekai’s training as an ʻĀina Warrior began early on.

“I’ve been dancing hula with my mom since I was born and dancing hula with hālau since the fifth grade,” Kekai says.

His perspective around his own cultural practices and his relationship to ʻāina, and people is profound.  “ʻĀina is a whole bigger concept than just weeding the grass or taking out a tree. Mālama ʻĀina is a concept that revolves around everything. Humans. The things we eat.  The things we sleep with. Everything.  Atoms make up the universe,” he says pausing and thoughtfully choosing his words.  “I think ʻāina makes up the universe.  ʻĀina heals.”

Kekai was on his own journey to heal others after family members became seriously ill and injured.  He decided to pursue nursing as a career and recently completed his first year at UH-Mānoa.  But the pandemic sent a wave of trepidation and uncertainty to the world shifting the course of many lives including Kekai’s.

“You know, I started really focusing on myself, mentally, physically, spiritually. And all I know, as the days went by I started feeling more happy.  I felt more grounded and focused in my goals.”

Kekai has reconsidered nursing as a career and is exploring other ways to help people and ʻāina.  “Maybe nursing might not be the best route for me. But I still want to find a career that has me helping other people and healing ʻāina.”