Who are the Hawai'i nationals? Those descendants of those who were Hawai'i nationals at the time of the U.S. invasion in 1893. The 1890 census show 84.4% were Kanaka Maoli and 15.6% were of non-kanaka maoli blood of foreign origins. These 15.6% embraced the Polynesian-Hawaiian mainstream society and supported the Queen during the following tumultuous years. Many also signed the Ku'e Petitions in 1893 with the Queen and again in 1897. Therefore, they also have a stake in this as well as the kanaka Maoli; for all are Hawai'i nationals.
How do we show our nationalism? Just by being active and letting our voices be heard when issues affect us is one criteria. We have to be involved and participate to make things happen. Self-responsibility in educating ourselves to the facts; disseminate the data, legal positions, and reveal the facts. Taking pride in who we are, being pono and taking on our kuleana with integrity.
How do we live it? Just by being the intelligent, hard-working, compassionate, loveable people that we are. Staying pono. Your personal life doesn't cease; you have personal kuleana to take care of; sustenance for your family and yourself; watch-dogging issues that affect your family's well-being; supporting our cause as a nation; being active and out-spoken for rights and justice. Participate in making our nation a great place to live in; and protect personal safety for all.
Enjoy life as a Hawai'i national and love your children enough to encourage their motivation to learn, work, and be culturally sensitive. Instill love and pride in who we all are as human beings in this stressful world of conflicts. Be good stewards of the land and a gracious host to visitors: local, from neighbor islands, and those from foreign lands. Love one another for who we are as a person and as an individual. Show respect to all others as with yourself.
I use the mountains to contemplate and be one with nature; similarly I do that by the ocean, and send all my troubles out to sea in a cleansing. I rejuvenate myself when I can. I enjoy the people around me and with whom I have contact and appreciate them for just being who they are. Each person makes a difference in life by just being there and being alive.
The vibrancy of our people is also amazing. How fortunate we are here in Hawai'i nei. God made so few of us because He didn't want to give the world too much of a good thing. He Hawai'i au, a o 'oe?
Tane