• Breaking Down The Phrase
• The Deeper Meaning
• Practical Applications
• Conclusion

Duck Facing The Sun Rays on the Field

Nānā: This word means “to look, to observe, to pay attention.” This is an active, deliberate act of seeing with intention. An intention to focus, study closely, and truly understanding  what it is you’re beholding. In the islander sense, to nānā is to engage with the world in a way that honors its depth and meaning.

Ke kumu: Kumu is a rich word, meaning “source, origin, foundation, or teacher.” It’s the root of a tree, the beginning of a stream, the teacher who imparts knowledge, or the ancestors pain and struggles whose lifeblood flows through you. It’s your identity, your values, your connection to the ʻāina (land) and your ʻohana (family). Ke is the definite article, emphasizing the source, the one true foundation that defines you.

Together, Nānā i ke kumu is a call to turn your gaze toward the origin of your being, to seek out the wisdom of your ancestors and the lessons of the land.

Woman in White Dress Dancing in The Fields

So what does this mean. Well, it’s a reminder that you are not adrift in the world. Rather you are tethered to something ancient, sacred, enduring. This is what ke kumu is saying here, that your source, your roots, your heritage, your values, are the anchors that keeps you steady in a stormy world. Much like how a tree forgetting its roots will wither and die after being disconnected from the nourishment sustaining it, you can fall into darkness and aimlessness by being disconnected from your own roots.

In Hawaiian culture, ke kumu often refers to the ancestors who carried the knowledge of survival. But it also refers to the ʻāina that sustains life or even the spiritual connection to the divine that gives purpose. To nānā is to actively seek out this wisdom and to reject the superficial distractions of modern life, like social media, fleeting trends, or keeping up with the Joneses, and choosing instead to engage with what is real. This is why nānā suggests a deliberate focus, to consciously chose to turn away from the noise and toward the foundational truths. But what are some of these foundational truths.

When analyzing values such as it, it should be stated, this pursuit is no small matter. One should think through these things carefully and with multiple sources of guidance, as they can completely restructure the way you see the world.

One common hawaiian way to nānā i ke kumu, is to honor the wisdom of those who came before, whose sacrifices and insights made you possible. It is to approach your elders with a deep amount of humility and respect that they deserve. As much as our narcissistic tendencies lead us to believe we are more advanced and know more about the world in this day and age, the truth of the matter is, our pathetic knowledge wouldn't have lasted us a month in the late 1700's. Our ancestors were not stupid. They may have not had the exact vocabulary or philosophical tendencies to expound the "meaning of life", and they definitely did not have the free time to sit around swiping on phones and complaining about tribal ideologies, but they knew what they were doing. They survived hell so you could be higher up on Maslows hierarchy of needs and have the opportunity to do good in the world. So don't automatically assume your 6 months of political science or religious studies is enough to restructure an entire social institution. That idea is naive beyond belief.

As an aside - If you're listening here you're probably not over 60 years of age. Actually, you're probably under 40, and you probably suck at critical thinking. It's okay, I do too. So here's some offhand unsolicited advice. Quit drinking alcohol, using THC, and pursing an instagram lifestyle, and learn to think critically. You would not believe how much the entire world will open up to you if you learn how to properly analyze your currently shallow thoughts. And if you think I'm wrong then you're just not thinking, and you should probably stop this video. The most dangerous weapon in the world, is a sharp mind with a properly trained tongue. Relentlessly sharpen your sword of thought, ask better questions and learn to shut up-listening with an attentive ear. You might be surprised at what you hear.

Another one of the truths is that we all must recognize that we are part of a larger story, a web of relationships and responsibilities that stretch across generations. The kūpuna understood that to lose sight of your source is to lose your way entirely. On the islands it was imperitive to keep high of mind, your connection to everyone around you. You are not just you, you are a village, carrying the blood, stories, struggles, and generational pain of everyone close to you. We’ve all seen folks lost in aimlessness and the psychological pains of mental health. Maybe it was even you (I definitely fell in this category). But this was all often a reflection of a broken inner child, who is lost and forgotten how to see others as a brother and a sister. You were not born into this world with hate. You were a child with infinite possibilities, and you saw no color or political parties. These are all things you learned, and maybe it's time to unlearn some of them. Your life and the way you interact with the rest of society matters more than you think. And that's actually a very big burdeon to carry. So don't be an ass. Treat people with respect. Meaning is found through connection, not correction.

The cultural weight of this proverb in context of Hawaii’s traumaticl history also cannot be overstated. The arrival of foreign influences, particularly Western missionaries during the colonialization, fractured the Native Hawaiians connections to their kumu. Many traditions and ceremonial practices Hawaiians have done for thousands of years, like drinking ʻawa (kava) or performing traditional ceremonies were banned, forcing all to adapt to survive.

Native Hawaiians faced a crisis of identity, being caught between their dying ancestral wisdom and the pressures of a new world. This is why ke kumu also suggests this concept of resilience. It’s a call to reclaim your identity, to look back to the source of your heritage as a radical act of self-discovery. It implies focusing on this sacred connection to the past to take actions that empowers the present.

In the end, this is about finding your pono, your sense of rightness, balance, and harmony. You are shaped by your ancestors, your culture, your land, and your choices. And more importantly, you hold the spark of divinity within you. To ignore your source is to live inauthentically and leads to a life that drifts without purpose, without meaning, and this can lead to apathy and nihilism. By looking to your source, you can rediscover your resilience, your aloha, your capacity to live in harmony with both yourself and the world.

Smiling woman on a mountain rock, arms spread, face lifted to the sky