Seeing History Unfold

A L O H A!

 Is more than a word, 

it is a concept, a philosophy of life, 

a rule of behaviour, 

a deep and sacred truth 

that is at once simple, obvious 

and powerful 

in any context. 

The Hawaiian People, 

it is said, recognized 

the spirit of Jesus 

immediately, but wondered 

at the cold behavior 
of the missionaries 

It was not a perfect society,

holding slaves, fighting wars,

ruled over by a class

of "superiors."

In other words,

it was like other

cultures around the globe

in that time.

What I am praising

is the inclusion and

courtesy that was

their heartbeat.

Vestiges of ALOHA 
remain.

They have blessed,

educated,

and changed

me;

For the better.

This week

our legislature

seems poised

to extend marriage equality

to all.

Hearings in special session

have run the gamut

from: "Gays are trying

to take over the world,

shame on you for taking

bribes to help them."

To wonderful testimony

from local families,

faith leaders,

seniors,

children,

as to why

equality and inclusion

are Pono

(the Hawaiian word

for "Right, righteous.")

For once, the dignity

of our local senators

(the majority of them!)

has risen to a

statesmanlike stature.

Senator Hee asked a 

very nice older woman

how she reconciled

the disagreement

between different churches

as to the bill.

She could not answer.

Nor could the person

who testified that 

legislative staff

was infiltrated with gays

when the same senator

asked:

"Which of them do I work with?

*Pause*

Thought you said you knew."

The US Supreme Court ruling,

as well as marriage equality

from South Africa to Iowa

have made a huge change

to local leaders.

Hawaii will vote: aloha to ALL

this week

or next.

My friends, my betters,

my forerunners,

 martyrs,

 and I

are poised to

succeed

in a long long long long long

struggle.

The world will not end.

Promise!

"It's historic in the sense that there's a huge paradigm shift, but it's a shift that, in my opinion, bends the arc of justice towards the right way,
It takes us to a new level of equal rights."

Hawaii State Sen. Clayton Hee 

" Kanaka Maoli*

 have been conditioned for so long

 to think and act like foreigners

 that we have allowed the meaning

 and intent of our words, traditions and philosophies 

to be replaced by neo-Christian beliefs 

and used to further a 

Western political agenda 

on our islands."

Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu 
More about Hina:
HERE


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* Kanaka Maoli is what the original Hawaiian people call themselves in their own Language. 

Back in the 19th century, Hawaiian sailors were often listed on crew manifest as "Kanaka" or "Kanak)