Dearest Island,
The time has come for us to move on, to no longer share in your sacred land. It has been an honour to live under the shelter of the spirits of my own ancestors and great elders. Though Kure is the last stepping stone before the next life for those who have gone before us, it has been the first stepping stone for me.
Thank you for caring for the marine life, may they swim and bask in peace. Thank you for caring for the birds, may they burrow, soar, sing and dance with the fires of joy in their souls.
Thank you for caring for us, for letting us learn from, and be part of this magnificent world as we worked to care for it too.
As we say goodbye, new faces say hello. May their time here be as illuminating as mine was. May this island be a safe haven for all those who need it until it is claimed back by Tangaroa. Until I see these shores again, in this life or the next, I leave with love in my heart and life in my soul.
Arohanui, kia kaha nā Charlie Kei te hoa, e Motu.
Kua tae ki te wā, me wehe tāua, i te mea kua motu tō tāua neiherenga ā whenua tapu nei. Nōku te whakamānawa kua tāwharautia au, i raro i ngāmanaakitanga a ōku ake tīpuna me ōku anō rangatira. Ahakoa ko Kure te hīkoinga whakamutunga mō te hunga kuamoe kē, i mua i tō pekanga atu ki ao kē, mōku ake he hīkoingatuatahi kē tēnei. Tēnā rawa atu koe, mōu ngā ika ahumoana i manaaki. Tukunate āiotanga ki a rātau, kia pai ai tā rātau kauhoe me te inaina. Tēnā hoki koe i tahuri ki te manaaki i ngā manu a Tāne. Tukuna rātau kia hanga tārua, kia rere hoki ki runga rawa, tukuna kia kanikani, kia kā ake ai te tūrangahākoa i ō rātaungākau. Tēnā rawa atu koe e hoa, mōu i manaaki, i ako hoki i a mātaume te aha, kua whakapau kaha tātau ki te tiaki i tō tātau aomīharo nei. Ahakoa kua huri te kei o taku waka ki te wā kāinga, mate atuhe kanohi tawhito, ara mai anō he kanohi hōu. Ko te manakonui, ka tūrama tā rātau noho i konei pēnei i tōku. Ka mutu, e tumanakohia ana e au, kia noho tonu tēnei motuhei āhuru mōwai mō te hunga e hiahia ana ki a ia, tae noa ki tewā ka tīkina anō ia e Tangaroa. Tāria te wā, ka kite anō au i ēnei takutai i tōku oranga nei, imuri atu rānei ki ao kē rānei. Heoi, kua kī rawa taku ngākau ite aroha komaingo, ā, kua awe katoa hoki taku wairua. Arohanui, kia kaha nā Charlie