ʻOiai e nana mai ana no na maka. While the eyes still look around.While a person is living, treat him kindly and learn what you can from him.ʻOlelo Noʻeau—Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings, #2381
—Collected, translated, and annotated by Mary Kawena Pukui
This article is dedicated to my mother, Margaret Mitsuko Tahara Tanoue who died on November 22, 2011 in Honokaa, Hawaiʻi. How she lived her life helped me to become who I am today. She was down to earth and a wonderful cook, seamstress, athlete, hula dancer. She didn’t preoccupy herself with pleasing others. …