Kanaka Thinking: Doing Good

O ka pono ke hana 'ia a iho mai na lani. Pukui 2437 Continue to do good until the heavens come down to you. Blessings come to those who persist in doing good. There seems to be a big difference between doing good and doing well. Often times, we emphasize doing well which relates to personal performance or achievement of a particular goal. However to do good means to do things that may benefit others. In these days of skepticism, negativism, and selfcenteredism, we have lost the willingness to reach out and touch others with a kind word, look, or deed. Ghosts torment our minds..."Wonder if they are going to rip me off?" "What is the real ulterior motive?" What do They have to gain?" "What can I gain?" The unfortunate thing is that we teach our children to be anxious about life: "Don't do that, the policeman will scold you." "Don't....No....Watch out for strangers....Beware, beware, beware." Granted that some of these warnings are necessary because of the condition of our society however, we are teaching our children to approach others from a negative point of view. We need more people doing good. We need more people exuding good will. And it all begins at home.

Kanaka Thinking: Water and Survival

Mohala i ka wai ka maka o ka pua. Unfoldered by the water are the faces of the flowers. Pukui 2178 Flowers thrive where there is water, as thriving people are found where living conditions are good.

It seems ironic at times when people do not really realize that they are living in Paradise. The complaint of too much rain, too little rain seems to be a discussion for Puna people who live on water catchment. When there is a lot of rain, the landscape is green, the air is cool, and we can enjoy the pleasures of a warm house and a good book. When there is too little rain, we can bask in the sunshine with cool breezes and a cold beer as we sit outside in the yard. Finding happiness where one is is like knowing that there is enough water for survival. Laki kakou, o ka poe of Hawai'i.

Kanaka Thinking: Peace

He po walea, he ao walea i ka la'i. A night enjoyed, a day enjoyed in the calm. Peace brings undisturbed nights and days. Puku'i #917 Blessed are the days when one can enjoy the peace in his or her life. We need to be grateful for the little blessings that mean a lot.

Kanaka Thinking - Our Spoken Word

Keke'e ka waha, ua nahu i ka makani. Pukui 1745 His mouth is wry after biting the wind. Said of one who has found that what he said of others is true of himself. I am amused to observe how people love to "talk stink," gossip or criticize others. We can see this in animated conversations at parties or gatherings, in reality TV shows, and in politics. When talking stink, it is amazing how people can wax poetic with numerous descriptions, anecdotes, and innuendos. Their conversation is a torrent of verbage. Yet when praising someone for their work or their words, the words slow down to a drizzle. Be profuse in recognizing the good in others. Be spare in finding fault. Better yet, if now for the good of others...be silent.

Kanaka Thinking - People's Response

Ke ku no a Maui; ke ki'ei no a Lana'i; ka moe no a Moloka'i; ka noho no a O'ahu.
Puku'i 1763

Maui stands; Lana'i peers in; Moloka'i sleeps; O'ahu sleeps.

Said of people who stand about, look on, go to sleep and sit around, but who do not lend a hand with work.

The choice of action is yours.

Birthday Party, His Way

Any time a Hawaiian family decides to have a party, it is a family affair. Baby's first birthday party is a momentous one when the family will go all out to put on a great party to celebrate. In the days when infant mortality was very high, survival to the first birthday was a benchmark for the family and that child.

Birthday and wedding parties are always favorite events. Once the word gets around that a party is in the works, then people are called upon to "help" with the party. Sometimes the help may entail going fishing or going to the beach to gather limu (seaweed), or shellfish like the 'opihi, or catching crabs ('a'ama), or gathering sea urchin (wana). For the farmers in the family, gathering taro leaves (luau), taro corm (kalo) or fern shoots would also be the assigned tasks. In the old days, the kalo would be pounded into poi. Favorite desserts are coconut pudding (haupia), and kulolo (coconut and kalo steamed pudding). People who raise animals may be asked to donate a pig (pua'a) to roast (kalua) or beef (pipi) to smoke into jerky (pipikaula).

The best parties are thrown by people from Hana, Maui because they often serve opae (freshwater shrimp).

When a party is planned, most of the invitations are given by word of mouth. "Eh, we going have baby's birthday party, Saturday, about 5:00 at our house." No RSVPs, no written invitations, and no keeping track of who asked whom. Therefore, making sure that there is enough food is a critical requirement. If you think 30 people are coming, prepare for 50-75 guests. Your really good friends will bring goodies such as dessert, beer, ice, dried fish, etc. without being asked.

My husband recently celebrated his birthday party. Being from Ohio, he has his own ideas of what constitutes a birthday party. Weeks prior to his birthday, I began to inquire..."So, what you like do for your birthday?" He answers were often..."I don't know," "Haven't thought about it." "Anything." So I had to get aggressive and try to pin him down with a list of options...what you like eat, who you like invite, where shall we go? His answers were..."I don't know," "Haven't thought about it." "Anything." Getting desperate as the date was nearing, I had to get pushy. "Brah,...what you like do...for real, now." Finally, he answers..."Let's just have a get-together with the family. That's enough for me."

Shoots!! A picnic dinner at the beach was determined. The word was sent out. Steaks were marinated, my super duper potato salad was prepared, our appetizers (pupus) included deviled eggs, veggies with dip, and cold beer and Aloha Maid juices. Rounding off the meal was Redondo Dinner Franks (oh yes, those delicious, fat ones with red dye), rice, loads of lettuces to wrap the barbequed meat with rice and kochujang (Korean pepper paste). To top off the meal was a chocolate birthday cake from KTA SuperMarket.

The day was sunny and cool. The ocean was inviting although the water at Leleiwi and Waiuli Beach parks are super cold due to fresh water springs. Paddle boarders were catching waves on the small surf. Children laughing and playing in the water while the charcoal briquets were turning white on the grill. It was all good. He had his birthday party his way...with the family enjoying the time together and that's what it's all about.

The Hawaiian View of Marriage

In the Hawaiian culture, family is a very important component. Yet the forms of marriage could take various forms. There could be one man and more than one wife. There could be one woman and more than one husband. The children born into these families are loved and cared for by all the parents involved.

For people who were unable to take care of their own children, the parents shared their children with family members in the hanai system. The children were loved and cared for despite their hanai status. The biological parents would often still keep in touch with the children.

When looking at the status of each gender, each was considered equal although each gender had its specific responsibilities. The men did the heavy cooking like pounding the taro to make poi, the staple food for the families or making the imu. The women gathered seaweed and vegetable shoots. In the old days, men ate separately from the women. Certain foods were taboo for the women to eat. Later, Hawaiian ali'i or royalty disbanded such taboo to equalize the status of men and women.

Kanaka Thinking - Marriage

Awaiaulu ke aloha. Pukui 245
Marriage - Love made fast by typing together.

Good definition for marriage where two people join forces, each keeping his/her own personality, and yet when working to create ties that bind create a new entity that is stronger than the individual's contribution.

Kanaka Thinking - Spiritual Strength

Ola no ka mea akua, make no ka mea akua 'ole

He who has a god lives; he who has none, dies.

Indeed our spiritual underpinning is based on the fact that humans are weak. But when we have a foundation of faith in an omnipotent God, we can perservere. This is the way of the Native, no matter what geographic location, which is based on the acknowledgement of spiritual beings which created the universe. Gratitude and respect for nature and the environment are ways of worship. The acknowledgement of the contributions of our kupuna or elders keep us based on family ties and expectations. The sense of community/family is strong and very unlike the "modern" way of life that seems so egocentric and Me centered. When one is down and out in an egocentric existence, who is there to turn to but depression and sorrow.

But when one lives a life of faith, hope is the element that allows us to endure the most trying times. To live a life of gratitude and respect is a blessing indeed.

Ethnic Recognition

We are in Haoleland, in the midst of people not from our one hanau. Our daughter graduated from college in California. There were hundreds of graduates with families from many different states and from many different backgrounds. As we scan the horizon and see the brownies...there is an unsaid recognition of people of your own. They may look like Hawaiians but there is something that tells me that they are not. Sometimes they look like Haoles but there is something that tells me that they are.

Ethnic recognition is the defining factor that will help one to know one's people. Eye recognition, a nod of the head, an implied gesture signal commonality of roots or mentality. What is amazing is that sometimes, the ethnic recognition might extend beyond one's own people to people of similar mindset or soul breath. It is a psychic connection that goes beyond understanding. It is a paradox indeed.

Kanaka Thinking - Ancestral Memory

Ka 'ike a ka makua he hei na ke keiki.

The knowledge of the parent is (unconsciously) absorbed by the child.

I tell you one thing...you will know 10 things. (Japanese Proverb)

As a parent, be a teacher of positive values and practices. Your teaching may stick with your children for many generations.

Kanaka Thinking - Anticipation

Mohala ka pu, ua wehe kaiao.

The blossoms are opening, for dawn is breaking.

One looks forward with joy to a happy event.

Kanaka Thinking - Service

Malia paha he iki 'unu, pa'a ka pohaku nui 'a'ole e ka'a.
Perhaps it is the small stone that can keeep the big rock from rolling down.

He may not seem to be a very important person but he may be the support needed to sustain a superior.

We each have a part to play, whether the role is a big one or a small one. The main thing is to be a positive contributor to the group effort.

Kanaka Thinking - Repentence

'A'ohe mea make i ka hewa; make no i ka mihi 'ole.

No one has ever died for the mistakes made; only because he did not repent.

Puku'i 188

Kanaka Wisdom: Give to Receive

If we look at Hawaiian proverbs as lessons to learn, then we can gain a lot of wisdom regarding how to behave and interact with others in life. For example, in the proverb, "'Ike aku, 'ike mai. Kokua aku, kokua mai," the advice is "Recognize and be recognized. Help others and be helped." The recurring sequence is when you do things to others, the same will be returned to you. The process of importance is the direction of the giving...that is to give to others first. The willingness to give or to share is sometimes seen as a weakness and in these days of own-selfishness, the gesture is not returned.

However, the traditional wisdom is to share, to give to others and then the same will be returned. Our kupuna were really wise and we see some of these practices continue among fishermen and farmers. Share your riches and the goodness will be returned in kind. We need to practice this more deliberately and consistently.

Kanaka Thinking - Truth

He 'onipa'a ka 'oia'i'o.

Truth is not changeable. Pukui 863