Yesterday was Aloha Iapana and it was a night of absolutely wonderful entertainment and giving people. From the organizers, to the staff of the MACC, to the Emcees, to the stage crew, to the audience, to the volunteers, to the kumu hula and halau, and to the entertainers. A special mahalo to Napua Makua and Karey Oura Kapoi for their vision, hard work, and neverending energy. Everyone was there to assist in raising money for the devastation in Japan. A most worthy reason.
My thoughts today however are about the various entertainers who came to donate their time and talent to the cause. I believe Hawaiian entertainers and performers are the most giving people. They are often called upon to help many organizations and groups. Many of them willingly and often assist by lending their personal time. They bring their bands, hula dancers, voices, music, and willingness to kokua.
This is especially noteworthy because for many of them, it is their profession. It is how they make their living and it is how they are to the world. Unlike many of us who go to a daily job to be paid, many of these performers are paid sporadically so each time they perform, it it how they are financially supported. For them to donate their time and talent is such a gift of aloha on behalf of all of us.
So I say aloha and mahalo for all the Hawaiian entertainers and performers who give so willingly over and over again.
April 17, 2011
April 12, 2011
Hawaiian Learning
A century ago, Native Hawaiians were one of the world’s most literate population groups. Native people were navigators, scientist, explorers, lawyers, judges, statesmen, doctors, teachers, and writers. There were more than one hundred Hawaiian language newspapers in circulation expounding on local issues, government challenges, trade concerns, foreign relations, and international politics. Native people were vibrantly engaged in every aspect of public life. Early western explorers and traders who arrived at what became known as the Hawaiian Islands consistently described the Native people as strong, healthy, and robust. Historical records reveal that early Hawaiians were lovers of reading, mathematics, and science. The Native people’s enthusiasm and propensity for learning has been described in books, journals, and newspapers compiled by early educators.
Over the course of the next years those advancements were significantly eroded to alarmingly dismal statistics. Those statistics can be changed. Today we should have as a leading goal to reverse the tragic decline in academic achievement, to stimulate an inherent joy of learning, and to reconnect students and their families to their cultural legacy of exploration, inventiveness, and excellence. We need to enthusiastically engage children, youth and families in culturally based training and activities that will reawaken a natural enthusiasm for learning. It is our belief that when students are passionately involved in their learning and are supported by family and community, their likelihood of educational succes and seeking further education is significantly increased.
To this end we must support Hawaiian Language Immersion learning, Hawaiian Based Public Charter Schools, programs like Na Pua No'eau, and many others like it. We must create after-school and summer programs in which excellence in learning and a Hawaiian cutural base are the foundation. With these efforts our children's progress and achievements will be assured. Our future depends on it.
Over the course of the next years those advancements were significantly eroded to alarmingly dismal statistics. Those statistics can be changed. Today we should have as a leading goal to reverse the tragic decline in academic achievement, to stimulate an inherent joy of learning, and to reconnect students and their families to their cultural legacy of exploration, inventiveness, and excellence. We need to enthusiastically engage children, youth and families in culturally based training and activities that will reawaken a natural enthusiasm for learning. It is our belief that when students are passionately involved in their learning and are supported by family and community, their likelihood of educational succes and seeking further education is significantly increased.
To this end we must support Hawaiian Language Immersion learning, Hawaiian Based Public Charter Schools, programs like Na Pua No'eau, and many others like it. We must create after-school and summer programs in which excellence in learning and a Hawaiian cutural base are the foundation. With these efforts our children's progress and achievements will be assured. Our future depends on it.
April 5, 2011
Looking around
A recent conversation reminded me that there are many folks that go through their days and nights not looking and noticing the place we call home. Simple things like; what phase is the moon in tonight, or why don't you see the moon out tonight, or where is the sun rising from today, where is it setting tonight, or even what direction is the wind blowing.
Our kupuna were keen observers of their surroundings and knew every aspect of their environment. The numerous ways rain falls and the wind blows. The different characteristics of the ocean and all creatures and plants within it. What particular cloud formations meant and how it helped them predict weather. Not least of which was the keen understanding of the water cycle that allows all things to live.
We live on these very same islands, we see the very same sun, moon, and stars, they still are part of our lives. In these modern times we might think that these skills are old fashioned and have been replaced by scientific discoveries. But I think if we do not continue to be a part of our environment, we may make irreversable mistakes.
So, take a moment to look up at the heavens at the clouds, to watch the sun rise or set, to gaze at the ocean's many colors and movements, and to appreciate all that Hawai'i is. Then, once you have done that, teach someone else to do the very same thing.
Our kupuna were keen observers of their surroundings and knew every aspect of their environment. The numerous ways rain falls and the wind blows. The different characteristics of the ocean and all creatures and plants within it. What particular cloud formations meant and how it helped them predict weather. Not least of which was the keen understanding of the water cycle that allows all things to live.
We live on these very same islands, we see the very same sun, moon, and stars, they still are part of our lives. In these modern times we might think that these skills are old fashioned and have been replaced by scientific discoveries. But I think if we do not continue to be a part of our environment, we may make irreversable mistakes.
So, take a moment to look up at the heavens at the clouds, to watch the sun rise or set, to gaze at the ocean's many colors and movements, and to appreciate all that Hawai'i is. Then, once you have done that, teach someone else to do the very same thing.
April 1, 2011
Aloha kaua...
The passing of my friend Kumu Hula Akoni Akana has led me to reflect on lives we come in contact with. Those people who have made a difference in our lives. We all have them. They may not always be there, you may not always talk to them, but their influence has contributed to who you are today.
Once, we were all very young, we all loved hula and Hawaiian culture, and we all made Maui our home. A group of us who collectively were Na Kinimakalehua. We wanted to make a difference in our community, we wanted to find outlet for our collective creativity, and we wanted to have the rest of Hawai'i remember that Maui is here. Toward this end we would have overnighters where we talked, read, discussed, and did huaka'i. Where we let our minds wander to phrases like, "wouldn't it be great if...", or "how about...", or worse yet "let's do it!". Out of this grew stage productions, protest gatherings, passionate projects, and lifelong friendships.
For Akoni, his passionate project was Moku'ula. At the time everyone thought he was crazy to want to raise a long buried island in the middle of a baseball park in the middle of Lahaina. Many said it would never happen. Many were wrong. Akoni gave the remainder of his life to bring the glory back to Moku'ula. His dream will come to fruition and his legacy of passionate aloha for this place will remain with us all. Aloha dear friend...you will not be forgotten. Aloha kaua.
Once, we were all very young, we all loved hula and Hawaiian culture, and we all made Maui our home. A group of us who collectively were Na Kinimakalehua. We wanted to make a difference in our community, we wanted to find outlet for our collective creativity, and we wanted to have the rest of Hawai'i remember that Maui is here. Toward this end we would have overnighters where we talked, read, discussed, and did huaka'i. Where we let our minds wander to phrases like, "wouldn't it be great if...", or "how about...", or worse yet "let's do it!". Out of this grew stage productions, protest gatherings, passionate projects, and lifelong friendships.
For Akoni, his passionate project was Moku'ula. At the time everyone thought he was crazy to want to raise a long buried island in the middle of a baseball park in the middle of Lahaina. Many said it would never happen. Many were wrong. Akoni gave the remainder of his life to bring the glory back to Moku'ula. His dream will come to fruition and his legacy of passionate aloha for this place will remain with us all. Aloha dear friend...you will not be forgotten. Aloha kaua.
March 29, 2011
Long held sterotypes
One of my FaceBook friends recently posted a "tasteless" example of Native American culture. A storefront Indian at a Grand Canyon store with a colorful headdress made of candy. Not only was the candy headdress tasteless, the Sioux indians who wore the feather headdresses were not from the area. A double hit in commodifying a culture.
I am often faced with all the kitschy Hawaiian items found in ABC stores, Walmart, and every other tourist frequented store. How do "tiki gods" made of "lava stone" portray my culture? How do "warrior helmets" made of seeds portray my culture? How do "fishhooks" made of plastic portray my culture? What do coconut bras have to do with my culture? Where does it all end? In addition you can go to any swap meet in Hawai'i on any given Saturday and see "warrior helmets" with headdresses made of Rastafarian colors made by local folks, or Samoan carvers making "Hawaiian tikis" or "Hawaiian walking sticks". No offense to the carvers, just to the kitschiness of the items.
To some it is how things have always been, to others it's just funny, to some it's cute, but to me it continues the long held stereotypical images of Native Hawaiians as "happy natives" who don't mind any of this. None of these provide any real insight into Hawaiian culture, its traditions and values, its depth, or its sophistication. It becomes an uphill battle to change these sterotypes in great and little ways and to re-establish the importance of these cultural ideas and iconic images.
But one must pick their battles. I am not the culture police, I just do what I do. I choose to support that which is cultural and avoid that which is not. I choose to try to further Hawaiian education and culture. I choose to try to learn as much as I can about my culture. I choose to do this for the rest of my days.
What do you choose?
I am often faced with all the kitschy Hawaiian items found in ABC stores, Walmart, and every other tourist frequented store. How do "tiki gods" made of "lava stone" portray my culture? How do "warrior helmets" made of seeds portray my culture? How do "fishhooks" made of plastic portray my culture? What do coconut bras have to do with my culture? Where does it all end? In addition you can go to any swap meet in Hawai'i on any given Saturday and see "warrior helmets" with headdresses made of Rastafarian colors made by local folks, or Samoan carvers making "Hawaiian tikis" or "Hawaiian walking sticks". No offense to the carvers, just to the kitschiness of the items.
To some it is how things have always been, to others it's just funny, to some it's cute, but to me it continues the long held stereotypical images of Native Hawaiians as "happy natives" who don't mind any of this. None of these provide any real insight into Hawaiian culture, its traditions and values, its depth, or its sophistication. It becomes an uphill battle to change these sterotypes in great and little ways and to re-establish the importance of these cultural ideas and iconic images.
But one must pick their battles. I am not the culture police, I just do what I do. I choose to support that which is cultural and avoid that which is not. I choose to try to further Hawaiian education and culture. I choose to try to learn as much as I can about my culture. I choose to do this for the rest of my days.
What do you choose?
March 27, 2011
O'ahu A Lua
While watching the misty rain in the valleys of O'ahu I am reminded again of what a beautiful island O'ahu is. Many years ago I had the opportunity to ka'apuni O'ahu while accompanying the Hui Wa'a O Kaho'olawe. It was a moving time for me. To see an island from the sea is an amazing experience.
Much of that which twists us up in the daily interaction of any island, gets blurred when you are at sea. All that is seen are the mountains and beaches and basic lay of the land. The crazy streets, crowed centers, and teeming bodies all disappear. The land, sea and sky are amazingly clear and a great reminder of why we continue to live here.
So if you have an opportunity to go out to the edges of our island home, into the sea far enough to experience the bigger picture...do it more often. We should all try to do that at least once a year because our perspective will be heightened.
Much of that which twists us up in the daily interaction of any island, gets blurred when you are at sea. All that is seen are the mountains and beaches and basic lay of the land. The crazy streets, crowed centers, and teeming bodies all disappear. The land, sea and sky are amazingly clear and a great reminder of why we continue to live here.
So if you have an opportunity to go out to the edges of our island home, into the sea far enough to experience the bigger picture...do it more often. We should all try to do that at least once a year because our perspective will be heightened.
March 22, 2011
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