The questions that should be asked and thought about most are usually ones that people fear to ask, they turn the other cheek away, are criticized for “ridiculously living in the past”, are given the response that Hawaii needs to progress forward and move on, or have us asking, “Can’t we all just get along.”
Nowadays, as much as we what to share Aloha, we can’t deny there is tension building in Hawaii. With the present day issue of the TMT Shutdown and protecting Mauna Kea serves as just one symbol of the ‘tension’. For every issue, situation, problem or whatever you want to call it, there are two sides.
This isn’t an article about Mauna Kea or TMT, but there is one term that has spread through the islands from the recent events and it’s – Kapu Aloha
Kapu Aloha is a multidimensional concept and practice inspired by our kupuna. It has been used within a Hawaiian cultural context for many years, but this may be the first time it has been brought out into a public sphere. It places a discipline of compassion on all to express aloha for those involved, especially those who are perceived to be polar to our cause. A Kapu Aloha helps us intentionalize our thoughts, words and deeds without harm to others. It honors the energy and life found in aloha — compassion — and helps us focus on its ultimate purpose and meaning. <fn>UH Hilo Source</fn>
With that being shared,
Here are questions that we should all be thinking about:
- With the constant talks about the homeless problem in Hawaii, why is there a consistent increase? A report shared the number of homeless people on Oahu is 4,903 (mind you, that’s just on Oahu and not counting the rest of the islands). From the same report, out of 191 homeless in 2015, 43 percent are veterans. This is a problem we see every day. Just take a drive through Iwilei Road and A’ala Park. For myself, I live in Kailua and have seen a drastic increase in homelessness.
- Why is Hawaii becoming harder every year for kanaka maoli and kama’aina to live with the ever increasing cost of living? I’ve been asked in a conversation about the new development in Kaka’ako, “Do you like the idea of living in an urban city?” I answered with a ‘No’ and explained that I’d rather live in a house the way I was brought up. If want to live in an urban city then I would have stayed away from Hawaii and lived in San Francisco, Seattle, or New York. But can I afford a house here? No.
A friend of mine wrote an amazing article about her personal experience with this problem on Civil Beat. She grew up in Kaneohe where today the average asking price is $800,000 and it’s not for a newer house either. Kaneohe is an older town. She shared, “If my husband and I set aside 10 percent of our gross income each year — before taxes and medical — it would take us more than a decade to save for a 20-percent down payment. This means my dream is more like a figment of my imagination than a realistic goal.”
Read her story: The Price of a Place Called Home on Oahu
- Who are all the new development of condos and residences going up in Kaka’ako really for? Is it for the kama’aina and kanaka maoli? While there are income based condos coming up, there are still a large amount of luxury condos coming in as well. Has there been thought of the infrastructure in the area to handle the influx of people in that targeted region. Hawaii’s roads aren’t that big and people in Hawaii are not going to get rid of their cars, that has been shown by the horrible traffic no matter how much extra lanes you put in. And honestly, the more people leads to more shit (literally and figuratively). Where is all that shit going to go? With our beautiful beaches, if Hawaii isn’t properly prepared there may be a much bigger problem waiting on the other side. Like a sewage problem. Look at what’s happening in Bali.
Interesting article on The Risks of Mixing with Sewage on Surfers Against Sewage
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZElr0EWvE8″] - How much sacred lands is Hawaii willing to let go to for development and ‘progress’? The most current issue happening is around Mauna Kea or Mauna a Wakea (Wakea meaning ‘Sky Father’ and considered the father of the Hawaiian people. But yet it houses international observatories with the probable Thirty Meter Telescope on its way up there as well. There has been valleys, beaches, plantations, heiaus, water sources, and other sacred areas to Hawaii sacrificed for the development and progress of Hawaii.
Learn more about the Mauna Kea protest at Mana Magazine.
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-UB3XwiPzs”]
- Why are there so many health programs, non-profits, and organizations for Native Hawaiians but the health of Native Hawaiians are still declining? For instance, in a Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) 2010-2018 Strategic Results, they shared reports of Hawaii holding the lowest obesity rates (%21.2). But %39.8 of Native Hawaiian adults are diagnosed as obese and ranked highest among any other ethnic group in Hawaii. And when asked if Native Hawaiians are making progress on this Health Strategy? OHA answered, no. Obesity isn’t the only problem. There is mental health, heart disease, diabetes, drug and alcohol abuse, and many for other chronic diseases.
- Is the price of paradise worth the quality? How many parents have to work two jobs in order to provide for their family? How many students go home to an empty house and don’t have a solid support system at home because everyone is working? We know Hawaii has a high cost of living and we always talk about how lucky it is to live where we are surrounded by beauty, but is it worth the quality that today’s society offers for many families? Personally, it’s bad when you tell a group of students that they should go home and they respond with, “Why? No one is there.”
Those who criticize others for romanticizing about the past sometimes forget how much the past shapes who we are. There’s nothing wrong remembering the past and holding on to it. Tony Robbins said, “Change is inevitable. Progress is optional.” So are we progressing in the areas that matter most to Hawaii and for the betterment of the people of Hawaii? A place is nothing without its people.
But it’s not just about Hawaii, it’s about you. As life around you changes, are you truly making the progress in all the areas that are important to you? And what are you doing to make yourself stronger and the people around you stronger?
There will always be room for debate and disagreement, but if we can Kapu Aloha and focus on what matters most to Hawaii, its people, and to you, then we can find true Aloha. The recent events has shown that maybe Hawaii is tired of showing Aloha (the Aloha that has been commercialized), and is showing their progress through Kapu Aloha and focusing on the areas that are most important.
Mark Twain said, “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
Needless to say though…
Lucky we live Hawaii.
What questions do you have for Hawaii?
