Kaena

Kii: Ku'ialuaopuna

Puku'i writes in her puke:

Kaena

vt. To boast, brag, glorify, praise; boastful, conceited, proud. No koʻu ʻike i ka maikaʻi, koʻu mea nō, ia i ʻōlelo kaena ai (saying), as for my knowledge of beauty, that's something I brag about.

For the warriors in the days of our kupuna, it was one of the greatest public displays of one's skill for all to witness.

If one feels awkward today to do it publicly, it is because of one's own expectations he/ she has for one's own skill. Remember, lua was trained everyday to enhance one's skill and 'ike as life can end in any battle. There were no 2nd chances so perfection was expected by each individual.

 If one is flawed in skill it will be shown on the kahua kaua or battle field and will be clearly seen by one's opponent.

In the greeting of a alii to the Aina hanau, the best warrior would be selected to do the ka alii ceremony, which is to cast the ihe at the visiting high chief...with aim and accuracy,the warrior was expected to truly hit his target without flaw, and the alii nui was expected to pale or seize the ihe out of mid air...this act by the alii showed the whole island that he was still skilled and able to protect his lands and rule by his physical and mental abilities and it also showed the other chiefs and warriors that If the alii is eleu, then his fighting force was also eleu.

Today we study this art for different reasons, but inside us all we want to perfect ourselves to be a example of our kupuna.. so work on form and balance, and block out those distractions that cause us to doubt ourselves. Your kaena should be the most critical part of your training as it will reveal your self to those that matter. It is our kupuna that really matter when we are in motion, as they are the masters and skilled one's who will judge us. The kanaka that are here today want to see the kupuna of old that stand before them as they are also transformed into the past for a brief moment.