Synopsis: Three men from Hawai’i win top prize in a nationwide contest.

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Welina e nā makamaka heluhelu. ‘O ke Pā Mea ‘Ai Piha Aloha, ‘o ia ka inoa o ka hui nāna i kā’ili iho nei i ka lanakila ma ke kau ‘ehā o ka Heihei Kalaka Kū’ai Pā Mea ‘Ai. ‘O ke kau ‘ehā ia o ua heihei lā, ‘akahi nō na’e a lohe ko ‘oukou mea kākau no ia polokalamu kīwī. A ‘o ka mea i ulu ai ka hoi i kēia kau ‘ehā, ‘o ia ke komo ‘ana aku o kekahi mau keiki o Hawai’i nei i loko o ia heihei.

‘O kēia heihei, he ‘ano ho’okūkū ia i ka ‘ono o ka mea ‘ai a nā hui e ho’omākaukau ai. Kū’ai ia mau hui i kā lākou mau pā mea ‘ai, a ‘o nā hui nāna ka pu’u kālā nui loa i ka hopena o ka manawa i ho’oka’awale ‘ia, ‘o lākou ke holo mua i kekahi pule aku. A ‘o ka hui li’ili’i o ke kālā, ‘o ia ke hā’ule. A pēlā nō lākou e ho’okūkū ai a kū ho’okahi ‘oi kelakela. A lilo i ia hui ‘oi kelakela he $50,000 a me ke kalaka kū’ai pā mea ‘ai.

He ‘ewalu hui o ke kau ‘ehā, e ake ana e lilo ka makana helu ‘ekahi iā lākou. A ‘o kekahi o lākou hui ‘ewalu, ‘o ia ka hui no Hawai’i, ‘o ke Pā Mea ‘Ai Piha Aloha. He ‘ekolu lākou, ‘o ia ‘o Lanai Tabura, kona kaikaina, ‘o Adam, a me Shaun Felipe.

‘O kēia kau, ua ho’omaka ma ke Kūlanakauhale o nā ‘ānela, a hele akula nā kalaka i ‘ō a i ‘ane’i o ‘Amelika a hiki aku i kahi pahu hope, ‘o ia ho’i ke Kapikala o ‘Amelika, ‘o Wakinekona, D. C. Aia aku aia mai, he pu’u nui kai kūkulu ‘ia i ke alo o lākou. I kekahi pule, ua hā’awi ‘ia aku ka i’a ‘eli hohonu (geoduck) iā lākou, he ‘ano ‘ōlepa ia. I kekahi pule, he pono ke lilo ka ‘uala, ‘o ia ka mea nui i loko o nā pā mea ‘ai a pau. Ua pōmaika’i nā keiki o Hawai’i i kekahi mau pule, he pu’u iki wale nō ke kū ana i mua o lākou, ‘oiai, he wai ‘au’au nō ia. I ka pule ‘elima, na kēlā me kēia hui e ‘oki’oki i ka pipi kuapu’u i pau i ka lole ‘ia. ‘O ia mau kua’āina o Hawai’i, ua ma’a lākou i ka ‘oki’oki kao, a no laila, ua pau koke ihola kā lākou hana. I ka pule ‘eono, ‘o ka SPAM ke ho’omākaukau ‘ia, ‘oiai, aia lākou ma ‘Aukina, Minekoka, kahi e hana ‘ia ai ka SPAM. He hiki wale ia hana i nā keiki o Hawai’i no ka mea, puni ka hapanui o Hawai’i i ia ‘i’o kini.

‘O ka mea maika’i a i hau’oli ai ka na’au o ko ‘oukou mea kākau, ‘o ia ka hana like ‘ana o ia mau keiki ‘ekolu o Hawai’i, ‘a’ole paha i ho’opa’apa’a iki kekahi me kekahi. ‘A’ole na’e pēlā nā hui a pau. ‘O kekahi hui, mai ho’olei ‘ia ka pu’upu’u. A he mea minamina, ‘oiai, he ho’omākaukau mea ‘ai ka hana.

A ‘o lākou nei nā mea e lei ana i ka lei o ka lanakila i ka hopena o ia heihei. Wahi a Lanai Tabura, ‘o ko lākou mea i lanakila ai, ‘o ia ka mākaukau o kona kaikaina i ke kuke ‘ana a me ke Aloha. ‘O ka mea minamina, ‘a’ole e ho’iho’i ‘ia mai ana ke kalaka hou o lākou nei i Hawai’i nei. E ho’ohana ‘ia aku ana ma ‘Amelika. He mana’o ko lākou, e ho’omāhuahua i kā lākou hana mea ‘ai ma ‘Amelika a puni.

He mea maika’i ko lākou lanakila ‘ana e ha’aheo ai ko Hawai’i.

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This column is coordinated by Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.