Voyagers

Artist, poet and political activist, Imaikalani Kalahele was born in Hawai‘i in 1950. He is a graduate of McKinley University and currently lives in Kalihi on the island of O‘ahu.

 
Ode to Fort Street

when pigs walked
from the harbor
to the ice house

Kalakaua played
at Alekoki
and Hawaiians
ruled their
homelands

now

where pigs walk
marble and McDonald’s
obscure the harbor

Kalakaua stands
frozen in bronze
and the missionary
sons are still
inventing history

pigs, pigs, pigs

once they walked
on cloven hooves
up dirt paths

now

they walk
on sidewalks
and
wear Italian shoes

Comments
Last updated 04 July, 2004