Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 10, 1 October 2001 — The fate of the twisted ʻōhiʻa [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The fate of the twisted ʻōhiʻa

The struggle for Hawaiian self-determination is like the endemic 'ōhi'a trees that flourish in Hawai'i. It is a strong, vibrant tree that takes root and thrives from mountains to sea, from rain forest to volcanic desert. The tree's wood is sturdy, and displays a beauty found nowhere else in the world. The 'ōhi'a reveals the wisdom of a thousand generations and is the traditional foundation for our hālau and homes. The 'ōhi'a is a symbol of our identity. Our rich heritage and vibrant culture are a strong foundation. We flourish as survivors of disease, warfare, colonization and betrayal. Our beauty is remarkable and is shown through the wisdom of our kupuna, the guidance of our makua and the bright eyes of our keiki. Like the 'ōhi'a, we've overeome the adversity of this changing environment. However, there are times when the 'ōhi'a does not grow well, becoming twisted, altered, threatened and destroyed. Understanding the 'ōhi'a's plight ean help us better perpetuate our culture, mālama the land and be self-determining.

Have you ever noticed homes decorated with twisted 'ōhi'a posts. How did the logs get so twisted? They twist because of the native 'ie'ie and foreign weed-like vines called mieonia and banana polka. Both the 'ie'ie and non-native vines utilize the secure and tall trunk of the 'ōhi'a to pull themselves to the sun light for nourishment. The vines take advantage of the tree and wrap themselves tightly around its base. The native 'ie'ie and 'ōhi'a grow together. The 'ie'ie slowly causes the the 'ōhi'a to twist but allows the tree to maintain its energy and reach its full growth potential. The 'ōhi'a and 'ie'ie have developed a mutual kinship where they utilize their strengths to sustain Iife. The nonnative vines are quite the opposite. Non-native vines invade the host tree mercilessly. As the non-native vines make their way up the tree, they gradually strangle the trunk impairing the tree's growth. Onee the weedy vines reach the top of the tree, the 'ōhi'a is choked from the sunlight and dies. The banana polka and mieonia weeds are deceiving because they

are aesthetically pleasing and sometimes mistaken for beautiful native flora. The foreign vines use their appearance to evade detection while destroying the 'ōhi'a's foundation.

Onee the 'ōhi'a is no longer useful, the vines move to another tree and repeat the destruction. Hawaiians are subjected to an avalanche of foreign influences.

The trappings of these introduced cultures create socio-political dilemmas that suffocate our cultural values. Many Hawaiians are eaptured by money, greed and political power. In our desperation, we grasp onto false images and ideas of an "aloha spirit" created by an "advantageous" tourist industry. The State Supreme Court has fertilized and nurtured the growth of these vines of destruction in their recent opinion against OHA's claims for ceded lands revenues. OHA has played "the game" for too long. Our ignorance blinds us from our true purpose. Our foundation is decaying and Hawaiians find it difficult to see the dim lights that still shine. Still, we have a ehoiee. We ean choose to allow the land, our well being, and culture to be overcome with greed, fear and political games? We could give in to the influences of the foreign vines that ehoke out our nation. Or, we ean follow the lesson of the 'ie'ie, find a balance so our people, culture and land ean grow with mutual respect and aloha. ■

Hawaiians are subjected to an avalanche of foreign influences. The trappings of these introduced cultures create sociopolitical dilemmas that suffocate our cultural values. Many Hawaiians are captured by money, greed and poliheal power.

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Colette Machado Trustee, Moloka'i and Lāna'i