Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 4, 1 April 1989 — Makaku [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Makaku

By Rocky Ka'iouliokahihikolo 'Ehu Jensen ®

Lots To Talk

Being that Hawai'i maoli has no proper representation anywhere else in the world. . ,don't you think it's appropriate to send the best when such opportunities arise? And why do we tolerate the election of a pseudo Royal Court? Isn't this an affront to our living Ali'i? I also wonder why the powers that be still settle for such mediocrity. . ,slowly detaching themselves from the roots, thus allowing for a totally alien cultural entity passing for what they think was, is Hawaiian? Why do we eonhnue to "pussy-foot" when it comes to what we are? Why can't we be "who we were?" And why does jealousy, blackheartedness, estrangement and fear still keep our people apart? Boy, that was sure drummed into us, wasn't it? Has anyone bothered to ponder these questions and the answers to them? Does anyone care? Or has it just become very comfortable to straddle that old fence? What does all this have to do with art? Allow me to explain. Last year the Smithsonian Institution extended an invitation to the State of Hawai'i for participation in their yearly Folk Arts Festival, to be held in the Mall. In the past decade Hawai'i has been invited many places in order to demonstrate the persistence of an ancient culture that at one time was paramount throughout the Pacific. In most instances we have sent representatives of the minor crafts. . .and hula dancers. . .usually

leaving out the most awesome artistic occupation of Kahuna Kalai Ki'i. Well, the Smithsonian adventure will be no different. No Kalai Ki'i will participate in the pageantry. How unfortunate! We have many sculptors who could adequately communicate this primary artform. Instead, the feather worker will attend, a poi maker will attend, a lau hala plaiter will attend, a wall builder will attend. . .and, ofcourse, the halau hula will attend. But, he who commemorates the ancestors, the akua, the primal memory, the history and philosophy of our people, will not be attending. . .for he was not included! Is it because we have yet to understand and accept the role that our ancestral imagery represented and still represents? Is it because as Christians, some of us are afraid that by acknowledgin'g that imagery, we might fall prey to heathenism? Is that why we allow every hawker and commercial vendor to transform our most sacred Kunuiakea into a lava ashtray and also into a receptacle for liquor? Ku is a part of what we are. . .He is the element of man, of kanaka maoli. Think about it! Why do we admire the Maori? Many Hawaiians desperately emulate them ad nauseum. Do you think that they would have ventured on such a journey to Washington without their tohunga whakairo? I sincerely doubt it! Auwe! Lawa!

About the Aloha WeekRoyalCourt. . ,although this has nothing to do with art per se. . .it is directly involved with a project that I am currently associated with — the Paris, 1989 Crossings exhibit that will be presented there in May. The Hawai'i Visitors Bureau will send entertainers, dancers and the Aloha Court. . ,this, to a country that revolted against its monarchy, decapitated its king and queen and sent the nobility reeling for decades. I have always been against the persistence of this travesty. It's bad enough that the Hawaiian monarchial form is a colorful exploitation for the HVB. . ,its usage confusing, distorted and adulterated. Do we have to send this "high school" attempt at historical interpretation abroad? How outrageous to assume the roles of our nobility in the face of personal tragedy? Kapu was the paramount law of the land. Does it mean that now that we are Americans, Christians, no longer kanaka maoli — everything and anything goes? I truly don't know how anyone else feels. . .but everytime I hear that eoneh blow and the spokesman explain their function, I cringe. . .it surely embarasses the hell out of me. But what the heek, the tourist just love it. . .and those whohave forgotten who they were think that I'm a pain in the okole. But remember it isn't necessary for truth to be acknowledged for it to be truth. Mai ka po mai 'o'ia'i'o!