Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 7, 1 July 2000 — Graduates: You are never-fading flowers in the lei of Hawai ʻi. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Graduates: You are never-fading flowers in the lei of Hawai ʻi.

KA WELLNA aloha e nā 'ōiwi o Hawai'i. This 42nd article in my series of 46 consists of excerpts ffom my June 2 commencement address to 148 MaryknoU graduates. "I am truly honored and humbled by the invitation from the class of 2000 to eome and share my mana'o at your eommeneement. For me tonight is like a Mink in time, because 33 years ago, I was one of 90 at the 1967 MaryknoU commencement, fuU of mixed feehngs ranging from happiness for successfuUy completing my studies, anxiousness at what higher education would hold for me and what kind of work I would find, and sadness knowing that my friends and relationships would likely be moving onto unchartered paths. "Even greater was the question of what my mature, adult responsibUities and expectations would be in relation to my parents and famUy. If not for thefr kōkua, support, sacrifice and patience I would not have been privileged to walk with my classmates. Now, in my middle age, in these few moments have with you, I would like to share some personal insights and lessons that have been field-tested these past 33 years.

"Graduates, your view of the world, your perspective on life, your efforts to chart and achieve the nulestones in your future course should always strive for a halanee between body, mind and spirit; between the spfritual, mental and physical realms of our being; between man, nature and God. We in Hawai'i eall that halanee lōkahi. "Striving tohve lōkahi, to model lōkahi for others will at times be a struggle, for this world is not perfect and

we are not perfect. But at the paee of a day-at-a-time, you must keep striving to hve this halanee. Your personal and spfritual readiness, resilience and renewal wih emerge eaeh time you pause, reassess and take correchve action to restore halanee to your hfe. "The foundation of your personal development, those aspects of who you are that wih distinguish you in your lifetime. Your

noblesse obhge wiU be measured by your character, competence, commitment, courage, compassion and giving back to community. Balance in your personal as well as working relationships wiU be enhanced as you: • work with sincerity; • work with proper perspective; • speak what is honest, using words carefuUy; • halanee your personal and working relationships; • look to the source; • hsten to the source;

• hsten before taUting; • prepare to get things done by working together. "Lōkahi includes learning from others, from elders, from those that have gone before us, and yes, even from parents. I have a few messages tonight from your parents, my dear graduates. The message I want to share is, one parent told me,

'Remember that you ean aspire to anything you want to be for you are my graduates of the 21st century. The sky is the limit.' Another one told me my message is, 'Always be aware of your environment, your surroundings, pay attention to who and what are around you. You wiU be alert and well informed as a result.' Another message I have to share is, 'Learning ean even eome from faUure. Learning and success comes from picking yourself up, dusting off, and moving forward. Be discerning about what is right and not right, what is healthy versus unhealthy behavior, and be courageous enough to take the enlightened path even if you must walk the ffrst several steps alone.' "My final thought for you this evening, graduates of the class of 2000, is one I share ma ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i. 'Ke 'ōlelo nei au iā 'oe. He pua mae 'ole 'oe o ka Lei Hawai'i.' '"You are and always wiU be a neverfading flower in the lei we eaU Hawai'i." (I closed with the mele "Alu Like" as my gift to the graduates.) ■

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