Manaiakalani welcoming
On Wednesday the 25th of March 2015, all the Manaiakalani schools gathered together at Point England beach. People from Hawaii came to educate us about Malama Honua. 2500 children were welcoming and introducing them into our native world, New Zealand.
Saint Patrick’s school was part of this welcome. Two people were chosen from our class as leaders to be part of the welcoming students. Every Thursday, Natalia and Johnny went to Point England school to learn songs and dance moves. They then come back to our school to teach the rest of our class and eventually the entire school.
We got ready to get on the bus that would take us to Point England beach. The bus stopped next to Point England reserve. The room 7 and 8 people had to take a buddy from room 1 or 2. My buddy’s name was Reneza. Our school had to walk down to the beach. It took a long time. All the Manaiakalani schools attended.
Our school sat down on the grass beside Point England school. A horn blew as the waka sailed and then anchored in the Tamaki River. Everyone stood up. The leaders representing each of the Manaiakalani schools, stood waiting for the signal to begin the welcome haka that would then signal to the rest of the students to sing. They looked nervous as they stood at the front of all the schools. When they started singing ‘E oho’, a song we had to learn, and dancing also. Everyone else joined in . We all kept on going until the people arrived on shore.
Soon after, all the people from the waka were on shore, I along with the others listened to them talking and I was surprised that even though they came from Hawaii that some of them knew how to speak Maori, When someone spoke from our side, the person responded back to us, talking in Maori. We listened to them just like they listened to us.
Then everyone sat back down on the grass. The people from Hawaii sang a song of their own that they probably had been practising. ONe of them carried on talking in Maori to us. Soon, we heard the word, Etu (stand), as someone played the guitar. I was guessing it was time to sing ‘He Honore’.
It was nearly over. Soon we would be back on the bus, back to school. There were a few more speeches. There was one more song. Everyone at our school knew that song better than any other, so that time our school was extra loud, but not as loud as all the other schools.
Finally, someone announced that it was all done. For the final touch every single school had to run down onto the shore and hi five each visitor. Then we had to go back and straight up the stairs this time. Instead of going back to the grass, our school walked back to the bus to go back to school.
In the bus the time was 12:30. We were right on time for lunch. I liked meeting new people. It was also fun to go to the beach in the morning. I wonder if perhaps one day I might go to Hawaii?
Here is the hyperlink to watch the video:
