No one who takes care of his possessions has ever found them eaten by rats.

When one takes care of his goods he will not suffer losses.

This is an ʻōlelo noʻeau (wise saying) that I first taught my students (little ones and teens). Typically, if you check student desks, whoa. Step back. Papers crumbled, broken pencils. Books from months before. Messes. Usually.

ʻAʻohe mālama pau i ka ʻiole basically means that you should take care of your possessions lest they be eaten up by rats. Want to take a guess why this is my special ʻōlelo noʻeau on this Friday?

You got it. Rat invasion. For the very first time in over 22 years, a rat chewed a hole in our kitchen screen and had a field day on our kitchen counter where I had left out a kalo with full intention to cook it. Apparently the rat wanted to beat me to the punch. Once the crime was discovered, major cleaning commenced. Traps were set. Food put away. Hopefully he just came in, had his fill and left from whence he came. We are on red alert. Not orange. Not yellow. RED.

Hopefully this is the end of this ʻōlelo noʻeau. Learned my lesson.