Kamanaopono Crabbe

Name Kamanaopono Crabbe

Age 57

Town/Moku Moanalua Valley

Island Oʻahu

Social Media Handle none

Nominated by Umi Kai

Leadership Category Culture

Share with us a little about yourself and what you do.

I have immersed myself in cultural practices for nearly 40 years in the areas of ho`oponopono (trained formally under Aunty Abbie Napeahi, Earl Kawa`a, Malia Craver, and Dennis Kauahi), mea oli (chanter) in Hawaiian ceremony under Kumu Hokulani Holt, Mo`okane & Po`o or leader of Hale Mua o Kuali`i men's cultural group, Kumu & Po`o for Na Kane `O `Awalani mens `awa ceremony. In total, I am currently mentoring 12 men and 2 women in cultural leadership in preparation of the next generation to assume their kuleana in malama-aloha `aina, mauliola, and education, and cultural ceremonies. I enjoy & am passionate about preserving the `ike I have learned from my kupuna and the honor to bestor upon those who wish to carry on our traditions and legacy.

Why is the work that you do important to you? The community?

I believe in the knowledge, traditions, customs, practices, and beliefs of our kupuna as expressed through mana to care for our `aina, to honor our ancestors in the realm of po and those of the living, and to preserve, perpetuate, and protect the integrity of our core cultural traditions. That essence of mana imbued by our kupuna is what made our lahui great then and will sustain our lahui, `aina, and rich heritage for next 40 generations.

Share with us the qualities of leadership you admire and how you express those in your life.

I believe in the core manifestation and expression of mana. Mana that is inherited via my mo`oku`auhau through my `ohana lineage as well as the line of kumu who have taught me the arts of ho`oponopono, chant and ceremony, and health and wellbeing of our people. I believe in mana that is acquired via formal & informal acquisition of knowledge either trained or educated that transmits in to intelligence, wisdom, and skills and insights. I believe in wiwo`ole in being courageous and fearless despite the naysayers, I espouse hanohano or honor as in honoring my kupuna, my kumu, my makua, my `ohana, and those that come after me. I believe leaders must LEAD in a HAWAIIAN WAY as did our ali`i. An `oiwi leader for the 21st century MUST be grounded and steeped cultural knowledge, `olelo makuahine, and experience as well as astute in western education as a VISIONARY to uplift our people, heritage, and kingdom. A Hawaiian leader MUST UPLIFT OTHER KANAKA, INSPIRE THEM, ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER, and most of all have COMPASSION FOR ONE ANOTHER.

Who has inspired you to do the work that you are doing?

My mother the late Rose Na`auao Maka Crabbe, my father Mogul Kaleiokalanakila, my great grand-uncle who hanai'ed me Robert Kaho`okele Na`auao, Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell who mentored me, Kupuna Aunty Abbie Napeahi, Malia Craver, Richard Likeke Paglinawan, Earl Kawa`a, Dennis Kauahi, Billy Kahalepuna Richards, Umi Kai, Kyle Nakanelua, Ke`eaumoku Kapu, Hokulani Holt, Aunty Pua Kanahele.

What is one word that describes something you are excited about for the lāhui?

Pewa. A pewa is most often viewed as a patch typically in umeke or bowl repairs for cracks. But another view of the pewa is that it has the dynamic ability to not only fix cracks but it makes the bowl stronger by bridging the parts into a more resilient whole. We as kanaka are like pewas b/c of our historical challenges we have had to overcome and continue to persevere. We are the pewa of our kupuna's past and the hanauna of tomorrow's future. We make our lahui stronger and build upon the greatness of hardships. That is why we are MANA LAHUI KANAKA.

What is one word that describes a pressing issue that is facing our lāhui?

KAHUA. HE KE KAHUA O KAKOU? What is our foundation as KANAKA, as Lahui Hawai`i? Let us return to the basics of who we are as opposed to western ways. Let us believe in ourselves and the `ike ku`una past down from the earliest canoes that landed on our birth sands since the 8th centuries. Lets us KUKULU HOU, rebuild, reclaim, reassert, and reerect our KAHUA HAWAI`I, FOR `OIWI by `OIWI, FOR LAHUI.