Hānau is the Hawaiian word for birth, with deep significance as the literal biological act of birthing new life, and as a symbolic act of forming or transforming to bring new possibility.
"I hear the soul song of Baby
and I sing all night..."
- Beth Leone
Birth is among the great topics of literary expression, along with love, epic journey, war, loss, death, conquest, discovery, success, wisdom in nature, and the sacred. We are pleased to share with you a diverse and delightfully surprising collection of original creative writing, art, and music, focused on the theme "Hānau: Birth, Transformation, and Possibility".
"We're ready to birth
and willing to die,
to do what is called,
to continue the cycle of life..."
- Hope Medford
Hawaiian heritage is rich with legend and lore, much of which refers to birth. Birth is prominent as the origin of genealogical lineages of the Hawaiian people. Birth is also prominent as the symbolic origin of all that matters in the life of Hawaiian people - formation of the Hawaiian Islands, food, natural resources, ideas, beliefs, and lore itself.
"It makes sense...
rhythm of labor,
swaying of woman,
beat of drum..."
- Hope Medford
Goddess of Fertility and Childbirth Haumea embodies the mystical tree of life - source of abundant food, with infinite branches of taro, bamboo, coconut, sugarcane, breadfruit, and fish. Moon Goddess Hina represents the power of womanhood and motherhood. Primordial Earth Mother Papahanaumoku (Papa), together with Sky Father Wakea is the ancestor of Native Hawaiians (Kanaka Maoli).
"Today has not quite begun,
but it shimmers and giggles
with anticipation and possibility."
- Erin Dietzel
We recognize analogues of birth in all the processes of nature - sunrise, springtime, rain after drought, blooming of a flower, regrowth after a forest fire, appearance of the first crescent moon...
"The day gestates under stars,
to be born anew at dawn..."
- Jim Larsen
Luxuriant gardens grow from sowing of seeds, whims of weather, and careful tending. Magma spews from the floor of the ocean, birthing new volcanic islands. The commonalities are newness, transformation, and possibility.
"The sun sets, birthing darkness,
time for reflection, rest, renewal,
time for lovers to hold each other..."
- Paul Rich
This book is published by Nature and Imagination Press (NIP), a non-profit publisher and philanthropy organization dedicated to cultivating deep respect for the natural world and nurturing active imaginations through literature, art, film, music, education, and other creative expression (http://natureandimagination.com). This initial Presence of Place book, Hānau: Birth, Transformation, and Possibility, expands and refines the debut issue of Kalani Literary Review, originally published online in January 2016 (http://kalanireview.com).
Contributors include editors Paul Rich, Deb Eikleberry, and Jim Larsen; authors Stewart Blackburn, Jennifer Brooks, Jennifer Dietz, Erin Dietzel, William M. Donnelly, Deb Eikleberry, Evita Huapaya, Jim Larsen, Beth Leone, Hope Medford, Richard Koob, Genevieve Russell, Jim Larsen, Paul Rich, and Genevieve Russell; along with artists and photographers, Mark Albertson, Maria Arroyo, Katalin E. Csikos, William M. Donnelly, Lisa Ann Gimbel-Hildwine, Kecia Joy, Robert Kent, Richard Koob, Hope Medford, Doya Nardin, Jolanta Staczek.
Proceeds from sale of this book go to cover publication costs of Kalani Literary Review in support of writers and artists through Nature and Imagination Press .