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)
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