Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 9, 1 September 1996 — Hawaiians stand firm! [ARTICLE]

Hawaiians stand firm!

100 years ago, Hawaiian language was banned. Today, Hawaiian is taught in the public and private schoo!s in Hawai'i. It seems like a miracle, but no, 'a'ole, armed with a dream, desire, hard work and community effort Hawaiians made it happen. Thirty years ago, it was impossible to imagine the United States giving Kaho'olawe back to Hawaiians. Thirty years ago, it was impossible to imagine 15,000 Hawaiians marching to 'Iolani Palaee to assert self-determina-tion. And, thirty years ago, it was impossible to imagine Hawaiians taking an initiative to create the self-governing entity, Ka Lāhui Hawai'i (KLH). It took many

Hawaiians to accomplish this task, and KLH is still in operation today. Like the rainbow we are not all alike. Some think OHA is OK, some say Ka Lāhui is the way, some want to retum to the days of Līloa, and some are kānalua (undecided). Some have other ideas. Some are conservative, some are liberal, and some a little of eaeh. However, it is clear many Hawaiians like to be with othcr Hawaiians. We enjoy sharing with one another, be it food, music, jokes, or just being in the company of others who understand our body language, and loving "like it is" without eomplaints. Today is not a clear day, the Native Hawaiian Vote has divided us in a very destructive way. I wonder if we behaved like this before the overthrow, fighting among ourselves whnle bystanders, like the kōlea bird, wait in the wings to take it all away. Sharon Lum Ho Berkeley, Califomia