We were poor, but we never knew that! As brown skin children, we had food on our tables that came from my grandparents back yard. The men in my household were strong, robust fishermen that had the capability to fish and dive for our table food. That explains the reasoning behind being poor and not knowing that we were poor. My grandmothers were great seamstress. My dads mom sewed dresses for 'Liliu' and my mom's mom sewed beautiful quilts.
The women in my household gave birth at home and their husbands were there to assist in their births. Ohana, aina and prayers were always part of our home life.
My grandparents were born into the Ku'e Petitions and gave their parents an extention of their hard work. They did not sell out to voting in the American elections because they knew if they did it would mean a plebiscite that would counter their parents petition against annexation.
Liliu was very much in my great-grandparents and grandparents life and they inturn gave their utmost loyalty. Having said that I follow these house rules to the 'enth degree. I am a very obedient daughter. My experience of my grandparents are that they served our people with their minds, body and soul. It is incomprenhesible for me to try to understand how they were able to do that. I sometimes wish I had their tenacity. All that one can do is to keep on trying!
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