Just a reminder...tonight at 8:30pm on channel 10/PBS is a documentary about Joseph Nawahi...and sure to be worth the watch. Here is a link:http://www.pbshawai i.org/ourproduct ions/BIOGRAPHY_ NAWAHI.pdfDonna
Aloha Donna,
Mahalo for your insightful mana'o regarding Nawahi. His words were indeed powerful and direct, and remain so today. In an effort to cover his entire life in a one hour biographical documentary his message was not emphasized as much as we would've liked. The next documentary/film done on him should be about his political importance at that pivotal time in Hawaiian Kingdom History.
Other than a few quotes of what Nawahi actually said..and the great comments by Jon Osorio and Noenoe Silva...I felt the movie did not do justice to Nawahi's message. He was not maka'ainana, but was a direct descendant of Kalaniopu'u, high chief of Moku o Keawe. He was an honor to his birthright, and had leadership in his genes....his dna. I think many forget that the chiefs were trained to think in certain ways...and ali'i had an oversight as part of that training. They could see "the whole picture". It makes not one person better than another, but they had leadership qualitries bred into them. The most important of those qualities is...aloha...as love of his people was the main driving force that kept him going. Even his words if you notice, were to the point, strong, unyielding and driven.
To me, the movie watered down the life of Nawahi, and didn't show enough of his spirit. I would agree with you completely that...it wasn't enough. I too wanted ....more.
aloha no,
Donna
Overall I thought it was a good documentary. If anything, it was too short for my liking. I wanted as much insight into this man as possible and didn't want the bio to end. He is someone to emulate, to aspire to be like, his courage and perserverance despite failing health. Sadly, his mana'o regarding the dangers of the Treaty of Reciprocity with the U.S. came to pass and Kanaka Maoli have been living with the negative affects of that ever since. Nawahi and the many maka'ainana that signed petitions against Reciprocity, the Bayonet Constitution and lastly annexation had the vision to foresee the dangers to the Hawaiian Kingdom of giving foreigners any measure of control. I was left with such an overwhelming feeling of aloha for this national hero and sadness for a life cut short way before his time and his purpose complete. It is the legacy of Nawahi, his wife Emma and the many other patriots of the Hawaiian Kingdom that today we remain steadfast in our love of the lahui & carry the torch of independence.
Comments
Mahalo for your insightful mana'o regarding Nawahi. His words were indeed powerful and direct, and remain so today. In an effort to cover his entire life in a one hour biographical documentary his message was not emphasized as much as we would've liked. The next documentary/film done on him should be about his political importance at that pivotal time in Hawaiian Kingdom History.
To me, the movie watered down the life of Nawahi, and didn't show enough of his spirit. I would agree with you completely that...it wasn't enough. I too wanted ....more.
aloha no,
Donna