E ke Akua nui, Akua iki,
Akua loa, Akua poko,
E wehe ka lani! (Kākou) Wehea!
Kauhola ka lani! (Kākou) Kauhola ʻia
Wāwahi ka lani! (Kākou) Wāwahi ʻia
E Kūlanihākoʻi kau maila i luna e hū
Great forces, small forces,
Expansive energies, concentrated energies,
Open the heavens (We) Open!
Unfold the heavens (We) Unfold
Break open the heavens (We) Break open
Kūlanihākoʻi, let the waters swell and pour from above!
A ua maila ua
A kupu maila kupu
A muʻo maila muʻo
A liko maila liko
A lau maila lau
A lālā maila lālā
A kumu maila kumu
A kumu paʻa hina ʻole ē
E hoʻoulu mai, E hoʻoulu mai
A ulu maila ē
A he leo wale nō ē
As the rain falls, raining
That causes sprouting, sprouting
That forms buds, budding
That send leaves unfurling, leafing
That forms mature leaves, leaves
That sends branches, branching
That establishes a trunk, a trunk
A tree rooted firm and unshaken
Bring forth growth, bring forth growth
Let life flourish
My intention is given voice
This oli is a planting chant, calling upon the elements to invoke growth. It asks Kūlanihākoʻi, the celestial water source, to overflow with moisture—essential for the success of planting. The chant then follows the natural cycle of plant growth, symbolizing the stages of life: from the first drops of rain to the sprouting seed, the unfolding leaves, and the strengthening of the trunk until the plant is firmly rooted and unshaken. This mirrors not only the physical process of planting but also the deeper commitment to nurturing what is sacred.
Over the next five years, NTBG will look to planting oli for inspiration as we strive to deepen our understanding and commitment to biocultural conservation and Indigenous knowledge systems. Each year will be guided by a phase in the growth cycle: hua (seed), kupu (sprout), lau (leaf), lālā (branch), and pua (flower). 2025 is the year of the hua, celebrated in the above artwork by Keanu Wilson. Join us as we share stories and reflect on the lessons that hua can teach us about our interconnectedness in the web of life.
