"I could not turn back the time for the political change, but there is still time to save our heritage. You must remember never to cease to act because you fear you fail. The way to lose any earthly kingdom is to be inflexible, intolerant, and prejudicial. Another way is to be too flexible, tolerant of too many wrongs and without judgement at all. It is a razor's edge. It is the width of a blade of pili grass. To gain the kingdom of heaven is to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable - that is Aloha. All things in this world are two; in heaven there is but One"- Lili'uokalani, 1917
A strong messag to our po'e. I'n thethe midst of challenge, we shall prevail. By educating ourselves of our own history, we don't accept the emotional, physical and psychological scars, however put together pieces of the puzzles that has fragmented our heritage. So much hewa yet distraught by challenges of incorporating Western and Hawaiian values that often contradict. We seek peace, yet unresolved not because we are of different color, but the 'aina that our ancestors has been exploited as a result of greed. Why do we have greed of Westerners seeking wealth and acting like an ihepa that don't give a rip and yet blame the kanaka maoli for anything and everything. For example, the sterotypes that portray Hawaiians as lazy, crazy or just plain stupid. If you read about academic achievment of Native Hawaiians, yes we have struggled in the Western academia. However, it doesn't mean that you stupid, it just that you learn differently. I've taught many years in special education and every child learns differently. I can't expect one child to be the same as the other, however the child that needs more kokua will get more help. In addition, the family might be sgtruggling financially trying to provide the basic means for his or her 'ohana. The child come to school hungry. I usually brough extra treats - blueberry muffins for my haumana. Sometimes apple pie or cake for their birthday. Yeah, it does cost a few more bucks, however just visual the child that is enjoying something special. The motivation goes up because somebody cared! The child more interest in learning. The are more interested in the mo'olelo that is being shared. We love to talk story, that is a teaching strategy that is common sense. Western is different, sit by yourself and do your own work. Imagine all the children learning in an envrionment that thrives because they are recognized and valued as a person who is encouraged rather than discouraged. Charter schools benefit when utilizing the culture as a basis for expanding knowledge.
Part of knowing ones self is to self reflect. I know who I am, but I got to figure that I still need help and guidance. In the meantime, I struggle with my own identity as I look at the pili grass with. What is it about this grass that either protects or hurts our heritage? Will slice my finger if I move if I move to the right or the left. I know where I want to go but don't know who ask. If I ask, they thinki I'm lolo. These are examples of experiences all po'e will go through.
If you don't question your own heritage of what has happened, the how will you know what not to do. If i told you to do this, you ain't going to listen. If I share a mo'olelo that you can connect to and makes sense, then learning will occur in different phases. Okay, here is the AKAKA BILL. Do you sit there and say yeah I like it. Well, tell me why you like it and what benefits do you get as a kanaka maoli. Now tell me what you not going get. When you are done, now that you read and ask questions as how does AKAKA BILL affect me, now how does it make you feel? Angry...Happy... Delighted...Now that you have the information, what do you do with it. Laugh it off, throw it away or say to yourself....Alright, I've been sitting here listening and kinda involve but not sure if I should.
VISUALIZE THIS...NO MORE KANAKA MAOLI, THE CULTURE IS GONE...HAWAIIANS IN JAIL...NO 'OLELO HAWAII. NO HALE...HAWAIIAN HOMES NO MOA... The pili grass has sliced your hands and you neva do anything. No kamalii singing at the beach, running on the sand or singin any music. I own your land and I tell you what to do. I have your language and it gone. I'm going to do the same thing since we overthrew your government in 1893 - YOU AINT GOING TO GET CRAP!
You may not understand the language used in the political arena, but just imagine what Bradah IZ and Mana or Sudden Rush repeats...YOU NOT GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING. You got to ask questions and read more about your history. Stay connected to your culture and feel proud. Don't go and look for a beef cause you angry, know yourself and position yourself in education that going make you more akamai. Now, what do you do with it? Bumpy, Keanu Sai, Tane, Pono, Ikaika, etc. general purpose is to make you more aware of the pressing issues we face today. Are you going to be telling the story or are you going part of making the story - I'm going to learn about what going on, I'm going to stay in school and not drop out, I'm going to do my genealogy research while I malama my 'ohana, I'm going to stay connected to my culture, I'm going to feel proud to be kanaka maoli...NOTHING IS EASY AND IT TAKES MANA TO STAY ON TRACK!!!
I'm disappointed when I hear about Native Hawaiians and academic achievment. In my research as a doctorate student, it is more personal than a professional achievement. My mana'o is being expressed across the ocean as I educate those who read and publish the pepa. For every tear drop to every waking moment writing that pepa, it adds scholarly research about Hawaiian culture and the negative impacts of economic exploitations and political dominations and how it has impacted academic achievement of Native Hawaiians.
I didn't sit back, I educated myself using Western education and found a place where I can empower while teaching. I learned more about myself as today than in my yonder years. When I did my research for master and doctorate, the tears was filled with anger of what they did to our queen. It is very sensitive to talk about at this moment as if it happened yesterday. We can't turn back the clock, but we can look toward a brighter future for our keiki and the unborn.
You only fail if you don't do anything about it. It doesn't matter if your 'ohana decends from Kamehemameha or priestly lines. We all descent from the same po'e, PAPA & WAKEA. What matters that you know your own genealogy as you move from adolescence to young adulthood, middle age then to kupuna as you take the foot steps of your kupuna in a NEW DIRECTION. WE STAND TOGTHER AS ONE as your roots will always tie back to HAWAII NEI.
Comments
Part of knowing ones self is to self reflect. I know who I am, but I got to figure that I still need help and guidance. In the meantime, I struggle with my own identity as I look at the pili grass with. What is it about this grass that either protects or hurts our heritage? Will slice my finger if I move if I move to the right or the left. I know where I want to go but don't know who ask. If I ask, they thinki I'm lolo. These are examples of experiences all po'e will go through.
If you don't question your own heritage of what has happened, the how will you know what not to do. If i told you to do this, you ain't going to listen. If I share a mo'olelo that you can connect to and makes sense, then learning will occur in different phases. Okay, here is the AKAKA BILL. Do you sit there and say yeah I like it. Well, tell me why you like it and what benefits do you get as a kanaka maoli. Now tell me what you not going get. When you are done, now that you read and ask questions as how does AKAKA BILL affect me, now how does it make you feel? Angry...Happy... Delighted...Now that you have the information, what do you do with it. Laugh it off, throw it away or say to yourself....Alright, I've been sitting here listening and kinda involve but not sure if I should.
VISUALIZE THIS...NO MORE KANAKA MAOLI, THE CULTURE IS GONE...HAWAIIANS IN JAIL...NO 'OLELO HAWAII. NO HALE...HAWAIIAN HOMES NO MOA... The pili grass has sliced your hands and you neva do anything. No kamalii singing at the beach, running on the sand or singin any music. I own your land and I tell you what to do. I have your language and it gone. I'm going to do the same thing since we overthrew your government in 1893 - YOU AINT GOING TO GET CRAP!
You may not understand the language used in the political arena, but just imagine what Bradah IZ and Mana or Sudden Rush repeats...YOU NOT GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING. You got to ask questions and read more about your history. Stay connected to your culture and feel proud. Don't go and look for a beef cause you angry, know yourself and position yourself in education that going make you more akamai. Now, what do you do with it? Bumpy, Keanu Sai, Tane, Pono, Ikaika, etc. general purpose is to make you more aware of the pressing issues we face today. Are you going to be telling the story or are you going part of making the story - I'm going to learn about what going on, I'm going to stay in school and not drop out, I'm going to do my genealogy research while I malama my 'ohana, I'm going to stay connected to my culture, I'm going to feel proud to be kanaka maoli...NOTHING IS EASY AND IT TAKES MANA TO STAY ON TRACK!!!
I'm disappointed when I hear about Native Hawaiians and academic achievment. In my research as a doctorate student, it is more personal than a professional achievement. My mana'o is being expressed across the ocean as I educate those who read and publish the pepa. For every tear drop to every waking moment writing that pepa, it adds scholarly research about Hawaiian culture and the negative impacts of economic exploitations and political dominations and how it has impacted academic achievement of Native Hawaiians.
I didn't sit back, I educated myself using Western education and found a place where I can empower while teaching. I learned more about myself as today than in my yonder years. When I did my research for master and doctorate, the tears was filled with anger of what they did to our queen. It is very sensitive to talk about at this moment as if it happened yesterday. We can't turn back the clock, but we can look toward a brighter future for our keiki and the unborn.
You only fail if you don't do anything about it. It doesn't matter if your 'ohana decends from Kamehemameha or priestly lines. We all descent from the same po'e, PAPA & WAKEA. What matters that you know your own genealogy as you move from adolescence to young adulthood, middle age then to kupuna as you take the foot steps of your kupuna in a NEW DIRECTION. WE STAND TOGTHER AS ONE as your roots will always tie back to HAWAII NEI.