Posted by Kaapuikinaea on December 4, 2008 at 8:56am
Yet another comment in Ka Wai Ola got me. Bill Punini Prescott wrote in about the "Tyranny" article in Ka Wai Ola. Highlighting, he wrote Was King Kamehameha II's order in 1819, abolishing the Hawaiian religion, its gods, the kapu system that supported it and heiau on all the islands be demolished, ever rescinded? Didn't the Kahuna fully support the order, even to the extent that Chief Kahuna Hewahewa destroyed his own heiau? And were not all of our Hawaiian monarchs from King Kamehameha II to Queen Liliuokalani, Christians? If it was not rescinded, then the religious activities mentioned aren't legitimate Hawaiian cultural practices and have no right to access Pilila'au Makua Military Reseravation.This is referring to Hawaiian religion in Makua. Now, anyone can correct me if I'm wrong, but does he have any idea why we have our practices that we have today? I mean, does he believe that we just made that shit up? What about Kekuaokalani, the cousin of Kamehameha II and his wife Manono? They died trying to keep the religion in tact.I think he has a lot to learn if he's going to resort to historical facts. He just needs to make sure he has them straight.
That's odd but then from what I have read about him Prescott is a veteran:
"Bill Punini Prescott: We Hawaiians of the VFW are really ticked off at those who are harassing our soldiers over training areas they've used for over 60 years. Most of them are non-Hawaiian Christians who hustle people to go to Makua with ads in Westside Stories. Our elected leaders brought our soldiers here and they are expected to perform in combat for us. Why haven't we heard any supporting words for our soldiers from members of the Legislature, like those in the Military Affairs Committee?"
so from what he wrote there to what he wrote in OHA they seem diametrically opposed but that's his opinion. He seems to be a veteran but even then I NEVER trust the media which includes the OHA newspaper. They have a vested interest to try to turn Hawaiians against each other and they may have edited his letter to reflect that.
It's difficult to tell based on what they chose to print and yes they may have censored his points. I know that it has happened to me countless times with the local newspapers so chances are it may have happened to him. Even then how will he be able to say that that is not exactly what he said. Words are very powerful. They can either create or destroy but I err on the side of giving him the benefit of the doubt UNTIL he proves otherwise :P
We must not forget that before we were an "island chain" and under one rule for political purposes - with the intent of peace for a long term goal; each island had their respective districts of how they governed, how they served, how they had a livestyle and belief that was not so comparable and sometimes "not compatible" with others.
As individuals with convictions and also a loyalty to a ruler or to their family and religion, there was still for the most part, a conciousness of state and church being separate as an inherent right on a moral level. Why things were secretly done... and for the most part, politics knew this. They were intelligent to know you just can't "smack" somthing like this out of a koko..(smile). That in itself was the worst shock of all aside from bloodshed for politics.
And today we see it here at Maoliworld being practiced and why there are many who bring their mana'o and different take on things....for if you think about it, we all hold a kuikui either in similarity or differential in shapes and shades and that is the beauty of this - we each bring to the table a variety to shape things into a beautiful lei for the common good. Remembering "for the good of ALL concerned" must be the drive in any project - no one needs to lose or give up things, everything and anything must be explored and all make a conscious decision.
Here is my point I have made in prior forums or blogs and even Ululani has made this point - trusting media ie: news articles, books, movies, etc are types of media which bring false or misleading information about us or a situation concerning us. Here in Kohala in the days of old, the villager who even had ANY contact in reference to "providing" any information would be dealt with severely by death and their family name changed - to do such a thing for the common good in welcoming outside influences was considered a shame. Without a mouth to refer to whether by passerby, idle gossip, etc. the person writing or giving a piece of information had nothing to go by to entertain its readers by creating some kind of drama effect. For if you shut the mouth, there is nothing to go by - word was powerful and still is today to either uphold or distort truth and nations. Mixed messages were deadly compared to no messages at all. And, there was no question as to what consequences the listener received - KINA'OLE was a given even in negative circumstances - spirit took care of that for us and it wasn't a matter of when, how, who, etc..when it was time, it was time - for to question spirit brought about its own consquences for the inquisitive or meddler - NO FOOL AROUND THAT KINE STUFF was all we needed to hear as IT WAS SO.
The problem we face is a timetable and how to address wating to practice KINA'OLE. Taking action is key but to be repetitive in nature like a scratch on a turntable only brings one back to where you started and no music heard. Sensitivity is the key...think about how you used a turntable with different rpms - carefully placed if it wasn't automatic - for good systems "back in the days" automatic by layering was unheard of....we need to treat sovereignty in this same manner to play out the beautiful music we are all holding inside of us.
Mahalo for bringing this piece of information to us here at Maoliworld. We all must remember for each time we bring to the table any information, "for the good of all concernd" it is a form of PAYING IT FORWARD...smile.
Good point Pomaikai. And now that I think about it, there were other things "abolished" that eventually survived. The one thing that we know of is hula, so that definitely contradicts what he wants people to believe. Thanks for that.
Yes even though "on paper" the kapu system ended it does not mean the religion died with it. The huna practice lived pending "what level" you're talking about. The highest of level had to be passed on for preservation if there was one in line for it - just because you had the koko and a family member doesn't make one automatically being provided with such a passing gift. It had to be earned and earned meant a whole 'nother level of thinking. You either had it or you didn't and for the most part it was not told to just anyone - it was well secretly preserved. At least that is our practice here in Kohala. It is only by word of mouth to only a few, not just anyone that it could be passed on to.
If the President of the United States abolished the Christian religion, would that stop Americans from being Christians? Many Christians around the world died trying to keep their religion in tact. Hawaiians of the past and of today are have the same belief on the Hawaiian religion.
Comments
"Bill Punini Prescott: We Hawaiians of the VFW are really ticked off at those who are harassing our soldiers over training areas they've used for over 60 years. Most of them are non-Hawaiian Christians who hustle people to go to Makua with ads in Westside Stories. Our elected leaders brought our soldiers here and they are expected to perform in combat for us. Why haven't we heard any supporting words for our soldiers from members of the Legislature, like those in the Military Affairs Committee?"
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Mar/16/op/hawaii8031...
so from what he wrote there to what he wrote in OHA they seem diametrically opposed but that's his opinion. He seems to be a veteran but even then I NEVER trust the media which includes the OHA newspaper. They have a vested interest to try to turn Hawaiians against each other and they may have edited his letter to reflect that.
It's difficult to tell based on what they chose to print and yes they may have censored his points. I know that it has happened to me countless times with the local newspapers so chances are it may have happened to him. Even then how will he be able to say that that is not exactly what he said. Words are very powerful. They can either create or destroy but I err on the side of giving him the benefit of the doubt UNTIL he proves otherwise :P
As individuals with convictions and also a loyalty to a ruler or to their family and religion, there was still for the most part, a conciousness of state and church being separate as an inherent right on a moral level. Why things were secretly done... and for the most part, politics knew this. They were intelligent to know you just can't "smack" somthing like this out of a koko..(smile). That in itself was the worst shock of all aside from bloodshed for politics.
And today we see it here at Maoliworld being practiced and why there are many who bring their mana'o and different take on things....for if you think about it, we all hold a kuikui either in similarity or differential in shapes and shades and that is the beauty of this - we each bring to the table a variety to shape things into a beautiful lei for the common good. Remembering "for the good of ALL concerned" must be the drive in any project - no one needs to lose or give up things, everything and anything must be explored and all make a conscious decision.
Here is my point I have made in prior forums or blogs and even Ululani has made this point - trusting media ie: news articles, books, movies, etc are types of media which bring false or misleading information about us or a situation concerning us. Here in Kohala in the days of old, the villager who even had ANY contact in reference to "providing" any information would be dealt with severely by death and their family name changed - to do such a thing for the common good in welcoming outside influences was considered a shame. Without a mouth to refer to whether by passerby, idle gossip, etc. the person writing or giving a piece of information had nothing to go by to entertain its readers by creating some kind of drama effect. For if you shut the mouth, there is nothing to go by - word was powerful and still is today to either uphold or distort truth and nations. Mixed messages were deadly compared to no messages at all. And, there was no question as to what consequences the listener received - KINA'OLE was a given even in negative circumstances - spirit took care of that for us and it wasn't a matter of when, how, who, etc..when it was time, it was time - for to question spirit brought about its own consquences for the inquisitive or meddler - NO FOOL AROUND THAT KINE STUFF was all we needed to hear as IT WAS SO.
The problem we face is a timetable and how to address wating to practice KINA'OLE. Taking action is key but to be repetitive in nature like a scratch on a turntable only brings one back to where you started and no music heard. Sensitivity is the key...think about how you used a turntable with different rpms - carefully placed if it wasn't automatic - for good systems "back in the days" automatic by layering was unheard of....we need to treat sovereignty in this same manner to play out the beautiful music we are all holding inside of us.
Mahalo for bringing this piece of information to us here at Maoliworld. We all must remember for each time we bring to the table any information, "for the good of all concernd" it is a form of PAYING IT FORWARD...smile.