Sacred Tiare Poem by Ronni ManoaHofbauer

Pure white petals, like stars in the night,
Dancing on branches in soft island light,
Sweet perfume carried on trade wind's sigh,
Beneath the vast Pacific sky.

Sacred flower of ancestral lore,
Treasured gift from ocean's shore,
In coconut oil your essence sleeps,
While ancient wisdom your spirit keeps.

Around brown necks you grace with pride,
Traditional welcome, grooms and bride,
Your fragrance speaks of island home,
Where gentle waves caress white foam.

In gardens where our elders dwell,
Your stories only time can tell,
Of chiefs who wore you with such grace,
In ceremonies of time and place.

Delicate blooms at dawn unfold,
More precious than the finest gold,
Guardian of Pacific ways,
Blessing all our sacred days.

In monoi oil your scent lives on,
From dusk until the breaking dawn,
Reminding us of who we are,
Under the Southern Cross's star.

Temple flower, crown of light,
Blessing every island rite,
In you our culture's heart still beats,
Where sky and sacred ocean meets.

From generation unto age,
You mark each turning history's page,
Sacred Tiare, pure and true,
Our hearts will always turn to you.