As kūkalahale pours above Mānoa valley, nourishing the land underneath, we are blessed to see kahalaopuna. The rain envelopes Mānoa, every drop bouncing off tender leaves hitting the ground beneath, replenishing the earth. The droplets nurtures the ʻohiʻa lehuas spread across the land like a garden full of roses. It is said that ʻohiʻa lehua is steadfast as it resists strong winds, unbothered by the turbulence. Just like an ohiʻa lehua, we can see resiliency through the spirit of kahalaopuna when it rains.

Photo courtesy from Mānoa Admissions and Student Housing

Before my drive to Mānoa, I look at my phone to check the weather. “Ah, precipitation 20%” I said, glaring at my screen knowing that the campus will be flooded with rain today. I gather my umbrella, wear my boots and bring my jacket, preparing myself for beads of water slamming the surface of my umbrella, dispersing it into sprinkles of drips streaming down. I peer at everyone’s faces, some treading fast to get to their classes, some leisurely walking without a jacket or an umbrella. I struggle to remain entirely dry, but at this point, it's almost impossible to stay dry when it rains in Mānoa. My huge backpack is soaked, leaving my papers soggy and my laptopʻs surface a little wet. I grumble with frustration, wishing that it didn’t rain because it caused a slight inconvenience to my day. I head to the library, seeking refuge from what felt like a giant monsoon. I chose a desk beside the window to observe the ongoing passing people brawling with the rain. A few hours later, the rain died down, there is now a light drizzle nearing the end of this heap. I watch as the sky starts clearing up, revealing the lustrous mountain with its serrated trees dancing with grace against the slight breeze. I stared at the sky, growing appreciation for the rain and rejuvenating the land. I recalled a quote that someone said to me, “Crying is like when it rains, it recharges the land and cleanses it. Just like how crying helps to heal your mind and soul.” I see a tint of a red hue, arching above the mountain. A few minutes go by and a rainbow starts to prevail, with its beautiful 7 bands of color encapsulating the landscape. Without the rain and the wind, the unity of Kualapa and Ka Makani O Mānoa, I wouldn’t have gotten to see Kahalaopuna. Without struggling through the pouring rain, I wouldn’t have gotten to see the vibrance where light hits the water. Without the rain, we wouldn’t have a rainbow and without pain we wouldn’t have endurance.




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