The 12 Rules of Hawaii’s Kū Revolution

E Komo Mai (Welcome) to The Kū Project

Aloha, I’m Daniel Aipa.  Most people just call me Aipa and I’m the founder of this community.  But there is no community without people like you.  So really, it’s OUR community.  My grandfather once told me, “If you are going to do something with your life, serve others.” He’s also known to say when things just don’t go your way, “Well, that’s life in the tropics.”

My mission in life is simple –  To Be Kū.

It encompasses building a Kū body and living a Kū life, the Kū philosophy. When defined it means:

The continuous effort of becoming stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually to be influential to your family and community and to take control of your life to live out your legend.

Through this effort, comes intentional practice and action to become stronger, to explore our ideas and dreams, to find new ways of doing things, all the way to towards finding our purpose, and empowering others to do the same.  By doing so, we can build a stronger and healthier Hawaii together.

In order to do just that, it takes passion, desire, and a little bit of experimenting to find your way towards making an impact on yourself, family, community, and maybe Hawaii, or maybe even the world.  This is why I created The Kū Project and believe this community, Team Kū, has come together.

Hawaii is a unique place and holds a big part in our hearts.  If you were born and raised in Hawaii, moved to Hawaii, visited Hawaii, or just feel the Aloha for Hawaii, then you know what I’m talking about.

Let’s be honest, Hawaii needs help and it can’t wait for the future generations. It has to start now and it starts with us.  It starts with you.  

But as a community you must be prepared to put in the work, to explore new ideas, not be afraid of making mistakes, become symbols of strength, and surround yourself with people who believe it’s possible.  If we dedicate ourselves towards doing the impossible then we can get closer to making it possible.

We like to consider ourselves rebels, thinkers, visionaries, dreamers, misfits, and like Steve Jobs said:

The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

And for us, it begins with changing Hawaii.

We’ve been asked if we are just another place that promotes health, wellness, self discovery, and positive thinking, which we are happy to reply with, “A’ole.”  Because while other places do talk about those things, they are missing a key aspect that’s a game changer for Hawaii – the culture.

So if you are wondering, what is it that we really stand for?  I decided to break it down for you here to see if this is something you want to be a part of.  My guess is that if you are here and still reading, you are interested or already in.

When did it become a Revolution?

Build a Kū Body and Live a Kū Life, started off as an idea, that formed into a philosophy that people started to ask about after coming across the idea and my book, Aloha to You, which doesn’t focus on sharing Aloha.  Then as the word spread it was obvious that it has evolved to something much bigger.  People who embraced the idea to “Be Kū” changed the way they viewed their lives and empowered themselves to become stronger.

Our inspiration come from people like Tim Ferris, Scott Dinsmore, Jason Ferruggia, Tony Robbins, and Joseph Campbell who have done big things when it comes to creating change.

Revolution is defined as a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system.

Team Kū, is all of you.  Someone who wants to stand Kū in who they are and become that symbol of strength for your family, communities, and most importantly yourself.  Who has a deep desire to build a stronger and healthier Hawaii and willing to take part of their kuleana.  You have something unique to offer the people of Hawaii.

I get super stoked just thinking about the possibilities.

Every Movement, Community, and Revolution Has a Set of Rules and Beliefs

The foundation of our rules and beliefs are:

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Ua Mau ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono

The Hawaii state motto which translates to “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”  This was said on July 31, 1843 at Thomas Square, Oahu by King Kamehameha III (Kauikeaouli) when the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Kingdom was returned by the British.

ʻE ʻOnipaʻa…i ka ʻimi naʻauao

This is Queen Liliʻuokalani’s motto which translates into ‘Be steadfast in the seeking of knowledge”.  She was the last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom and was the symbol of strength to the Hawaii people during the overthrow in 1893 and the annexation of Hawaii in 1898.[/su_panel]

The rules we have are few, because let’s be honest – we don’t always like to follow rules.  We are rebels!  But the amazing thing about these rules is that we are already following them without even trying.  So that makes it easy.

Please take time to read over these rules.  If they all sound good to you and you are on board, take a few seconds to say, “Shoots!” in the comment section below.

12 RULES OF THE KŪ REVOLUTION

#1 We Are Mindful of Our Surroundings

You are in complete control of your surroundings.  The people you surround yourself with have an impact on you.  If you want to become successful, healthier, more fit, positive, and progressive, then you must be aware of your environment.  We take this very seriously because in order to do great things you must surround yourself with greatness.  Those around you must think bigger, believe in the impossible, and must Kulia i ka nu’u (Strive for the Highest Summit).  Learn to let go of the doubters, the negative influences in your liofe, and surround yourself with empowering people.  Being part of Team Kū is a solid place to start.

#2 You Build Your Mana Through Learning Who You Are

The more you know about yourself, the stronger you become.  This deals with taking time to reflect, learn how to maximize your strengths, getting rid of self doubt, and finding the passions in your life and your fears.  The more you are able to bring out your true authenticity, the more you will be able to make an impact on your life, the life of others, and live out your legend.

#3 The Kū Revolution is a ʻOhana

This Kū Philosophy started off as a personal idea, but then it evolved into something much bigger than me. More people started to share their experiences of becoming more Kū which transformed it into a OUR Revolution.  We are a community where everyone contributes their positive and influential strengths.  We are a ʻohana that is committed towards building a stronger Hawaii in our own unique way.

#4 We Question the Status Quo

We cannot get stuck in the cycle.  We must question and assume there is a different or better way.  Albert Einstein said, “Insanity: is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”  We constantly think of what else can be done, what else is possible, and we don’t mind venturing away from what everyone else does.

#5 It’s Not About The Money

We don’t have anything against money.  Money is a tool that brings options.  Influential and successful leaders focus on their desire to make a difference, to create a positive change.  By focusing on your strengths, passions, and impact, wealth will follow.

#6 We Don’t Compare Ourselves to Others

When we compare ourselves with others, we lose a bit of ourselves.  We all have different goals and dreams from the people around us and also within the community.  Stick to your principles and your idea of success.  Learn to stand Kū in your beliefs and your goals.  This community embraces the movers and shakers, thinkers, and difference makers.

#7 You Are Not Afraid to Experiment and Make Mistakes

Life is an experiment.  We try new projects, ideas, jobs, and being around certain people to find what works for us.  Experimenting is key process to learning if you are intentional.  Through experimenting, you take yourself out of your comfort zone with the potential of becoming even stronger.  Approach everything as if you are learning it for the first time.

#8 You View Your Body as a Vehicle to Share Your Story

We pride ourselves on being strong, fit, and healthy.  Without our health and fitness, our story will be cut short.  We train our bodies, to strengthen our minds and spirits.  Through physical performance comes creativity and productivity which leads to greater impact and a stronger revolution.  Through physical performance and the integration of Hawaiian culture brings back the warrior class of Hawaii.

#9 We Learn in Order to Take Action

There is no sense in learning if you are not going to take action.  Bruce Lee said, “Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically yours.”  The secret to success isn’t knowledge, it’s the ability to take action from your gained knowledge.  Where do you start? Anywhere.  The main thing is to get started.

#10 We Have a ‘Why Not? It’s Possible’ Mindset

We are excited to strive for the impossible to make it possible.  We don’t listen to the doubters because we have a desire of curiosity for possibilities.  Each experiment, project, business, or life transformation is approached with a ‘Why not? It’s Possible.’  It’s our beliefs and values that make the impossibles into possibles.

Reminds of me the story of Roger Bannister breaking the sub four minute mile in 1954 which people said would be impossible.  Since then, thousands of people have broken the sub four minute mile barrier simply because their beliefs changed that it could be done.

#11 We Are in it to be Leaders and Followers – We All Have Something to Offer

We all have something unique to offer.  Thomas Jefferson said, “Every generation needs a new revolution,” and Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.”  This community has come together because our vision to become stronger individuals in order to make a difference in our own life, our family’s life, and hopefully Hawaii, or maybe the world. It is our kuleana to become leaders.  Tell a friend about this revolution or create your own army, whatever you do take the lead in any way possible.

#12 We Believe that Hawaii Must Come Together in Order to Progress Forward

I got this idea from Scott Dinsmore, of Live Your Legend, who said:

There is no faster way to infuse inspiration and change your physical, mental and emotional state than through the right music… We need a song that unifies us. That servers as an anchor to remind us why we do what we do here, and a trigger to fire us up to make a difference.

We all have a song or genre of music that gets up pumped up to exercise, go for a run, study, or wake in the morning to start the day off strong.  I personally have a pump up playlist specifically for just writing. But when it comes to the Kū Revolution, two songs come to mind that really gets me stoked on life to create change in Hawaii.

Whenever I listen to these songs sometimes I get a little choked up because I feel the passion and Aloha I have for our home, Hawaii.

I hope you feel the same way to:

We the warriors born to live on what the land and sea can give. Defend our birthright to be free. Give our children liberty. (E ala e – Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole)

Whoa… Talk about chicken skin.

The other theme song part of the Kū Revolution is in the next video that was produced by the KULEANA PROJECT of Dennis Pavao’s, All Hawaii Stand Together.

We shall stand as a nation to guide our destiny’s of our generations to sing and praise the glories of our land

Without You, There is No Revolution

Rules, beliefs, values and standards are what unify people and makes the impact of our influence even greater.  They guide us in our decisions, our behaviors, and keeps us on the path towards achieving a Kū body and living a Kū life.

They are what brings the community together as an ‘ohana, which Peter Apo refers to the value as:

  A family works together and is about emphasizing the ties that bind the group as in a family. It is feeling a commitment to each other as though one were actual blood relatives so as to bond the group as one spirit.

We strongly believe that if we can all commit to do our part in taking care of our kuleana, together, we can build a stronger Hawaii.

Aloha and welcome to the Kū Revolution.

It’s time to Be Kū.

A hui hou and Mahalo.

Daniel Aipa, Founder

Are you in? If you believe that theses rules are something you believe you can commit to or strive for, then please take a few seconds to declare your commitment with a “Shoots!” an “Ēo” or a simple ‘Yes’ (whatever you feel like)