Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 4, 1 April 1992 — Share the knowledge you have gained [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Share the knowledge you have gained

by A. Frenchy DeSoto Trustee-at-large

In Iast month's Ka Wai Ola O OHA I shared with you a very personal experience. I am deeply touched by those of you who took the time to write me and express your like-thoughts and experiences. Mahalo.

I received 15 letters in all, and for me the reality of what you shared generated a kaleidescope of emotions and realizations. However, your comments inspire me to seek a deeper understanding of our collective thoughts whieh, in translation, is "our mutuai deep sense of loss" and separation. In my view, there are many Hawaiians who also share a sense of loss, perhaps too many. Is it possible that the reality of the Hawaiian experience, circumstance, time and space has,

in and of itself, created an appearance of divisiveness?

Personally, I chose not to give credence to the allegation that "Hawaiians are impaled on the horns of a dilemma known as the Alamihi syndrome, and as a result are only capable of hukihuki." However, the above statement is not unfamiliar to you, I'm sure, it's but a vulgar attempt to generalize the Hawaiian situation. It is possible, even probable, that the perceived differences among us is really nothing more than cumulative circumstance, time, and soace that mold eaeh of us?

Are we able to say, right up front, that eaeh of us is the end product of all of the above? That we Hawaiians straddle the entire spectrum of contemporary life and that it's OK? Get that? You are OK. We all have ehoiee. Chose for yourself knowledge and freedom. It is OK to acknowledge the many rural Hawaiians who, because of their experience and time and space, did in fact protect the gifts

of our ancestors. It's OK! It is not OK to reject the gift of our ancestors. Knowledge, again, is the key to being free. Drink of the wai mana. It is not OK to hold the knowledge and then refuse to share. It is the obligation of eaeh of us to share. There is absolutely no doubt in this person's mind that in the acknowledgement of our differences we acknowledge the aka that binds us together and that aka is our culture and its spirituality.

Our ehoiee for accepting responsibility will enable us all to create a mele with all of the components, harmonious and pleasing to the ear, filled with the kaona of love and the life giving source of the elements. Thought provocation, in the form of questions, usually creates more questions not requiring collective respionses and are individual and personal. Again, for those of you who wrote to me, Mahalo. We will talk some more story next month.