Da Coconut Wireless - Station ALOHA!  

Show Notes

Minister of ThePeaceChurch


Founder and Master Instructor

• Archived Blog Post

  Date / Time: 12/15/2008 5:13 AM UTC

  Is Hawai'i For You?
  

  
  

  
  

  I am reproducing the text of my emailed response to someone who told me that she is sad and lost that she (a native Texan) can't relocate to Hawai'i because of the derogatory impression "haoli" folks appear to garner when in the Islands.  I hope my response works to enlighten you all ... I despise the derogatory use of the term "haoli," mainly because its modern usage is wrong on so many fronts ... none the least of which is that it offends the very premise of Aloha Spirit:

  
  

  
  

  Ignore what you've heard and go with your gut ... if your heart is in the right place, the locals will feel it and know you are for real. That is the truth of it.

  
  

  What you heard is that there is reverse discrimination in Hawai'i ... the brown folks are the majority and it is literally "the shoe on the other foot" on the Island. Well, that is true to a degree, but it isn't a profound, unilateral truth. Why? The truth is that everyone that does not have Native Hawaiian blood running through their veins is a Haoli ... a visitor, a stranger, a traveller ... present in the Islands. Another truth is that in Hawaiian culture, it is customary to hanai ... adopt ... a person not related to you into your Ohana. Young, modern Hawaiians (and there are less than 800 pure-bloods left, so you do the math!) seem to forget about that aspect of Hawaiian spirituality and tradition. Unfortunately, the term "haoli" has come to be derogatory and applied mainly to Caucasian folks due to the historical legacy left by the money-grabbing, Monarchy-annihilating missionaries of the 1800s.

  
  

  Quite frankly, I don't believe you adhere to what those missionaries did or adhere to their racist/elitist way of thinking ... and I suspect that your desire to move to Hawai'i is rooted in the Mana that eminates from the Islands. Yes?

  
  

  If so, then that is the only valid reason that you should go to Hawai'i because somewhere in your Spirit's past, you had a connection to the energies in that part of the world. You should always follow your gut and you should always follow that inner voice with unconditional love in your heart. No pre-conceived notions. No intentions of bringing Texas to Hawai'i. Just a desire to be one with the land and the People of Hawai'i. Aloha Spirit has no race, no nationality, no color ... it is Unconditional Love without emotional baggage. There is a truth for you to contemplate.

  
  

  So, my friend, do not continue to feel lost and sad. There is no need to be in Po, the dark place. You need to huli your bowl and go to Hawai'i and just BE there. You know what it's like to judge others shortsightedly ... I'm certain you've experienced that for yourself at the hands of others less kind and terribly arrogant. All any of us from Hawai'i ask of you is this:

  
  

  Respect Ka 'Aina, the land, and Ka Makai, its oceans ... never take them for granted, because we, Hawai'i's people, are charged with the duty and responsibility of caring for Her. Respect the Hawaiian culture and honor the people by learning all you can about Hawaiian history, gain an appreciation for the language, and understand and live the paradigm of Ka Hana Pono. It's not such a tall order, really. You just don't want to be looked upon like any other tourist traveling there to ogle, to make fun of the food, the names and the language and, ultimately, the people. Nothing wrong with that sentiment at all ... matter of fact, it's maika'i ... it is good ... therefore, it is also Pono (righteous).

  
  

  President-elect Barack Obama is one of Hawai'i's sons ... he was born in Honolulu, educated in Hawaiian schools and represents the Aloha Spirit in action in many profound ways that the American people as a whole are discovering, and applauding. We are all terribly proud of him and his Light because we all believe that it is the way of Aloha that will help turn America, and this world, around for the better.

  
  

  If we, as members of the human race, can all strive to do That Which Is Right, rather than retreat to that which is easy, our world might have a chance at survival. After all, my friend, we are all One Ohana. But, to make it work, we must walk our talk of Spirit Greatness ... in Hawaiian, we say it as "hele ka 'olelo i ka uhane nui au." I will be talking more about Ka Hana Pono in the days and weeks to come, so I invite you to always join me under my Bannion tree to listen to the legacy that is the Hawaiian paradigm of living the Aloha Spirit. It truly is a beautiful world view, and one that is as pragmatic as it is all-encompassing. I had the privilege of learning these things as a child, which allowed me to process those ideals and finally apply them to my daily living. With your permission, I can show you the way.
  

  
  

  You akamai? You understand what I'm saying to you? :)

  
  

  Keep in touch, and after reading what I'm all about, both here and on my website, and reflecting on what I've said to you here, if you still want to join us in Hawai'i, I think you should follow your gut and relocate. If you love nature the way we on the Island do, you will find more than enough reasons to remain happy there. Do not project the negative ... stay in the moment, live in the moment, and you will always be Pono ... and that, my friend, you can't fake. The locals will pick up on your Aloha Spirit and embrace your friendship and company openly.

  
  

  Malama pono kau'a, my friend ... please stay in touch and thank you for visiting me and listening to Da Coconut Wireless on BTR. Do check out my website: if you are in agreement with what I've said there, then you're well on your way to fitting in nicely in Hawai'i.

  
  

  A hui hou ... Until the next time,

  
  

  Lana
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