Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 12, 1 December 2001 — Hawaiian values more than skin deep [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiian values more than skin deep

By Claire Hughes, Dr. P.H., R.D. Department of Health One of our greatest responsibilities as parents and grandparents is to teach our children Hawaiian values. Now, more than ever, we need to be deliberate about teaching these values to our keiki and mo'opuna. Daily examples that help to reinforce cultural values for our children are scarce. As a matter of fact, our keiki are surrounded by ways that are not Hawaiian. We are becoming

far too acculturated. The rewards for practicing the cultural ways may seem few, but these are the values that make us unique and set us apart from other cultures. Thoughtfulness and consideration of others are values that are quickly slipping away. Instead, that "me first" attitude is demonstrated on freeways and roads, in service lines in stores, even going through doorways, and particularly on buses, where kūpuna are left standing by gum-chewing youngsters. What surrounds us is a very high value for individual success, where putting oneself ahead of others is the norm and being first, number one, is the most important, with no thought given to how others are doing. Kawena Pūku'i has left us a beautiful 'ōlelo: I kanaka nō 'oe ke mālama i ke kanaka, whieh she interprets as, "you will be well served when you care for the person

who serves you." The legacy of our ali'i is a vivid example of how caring for others makes a difference. The thoughtfulness and caring of oui ali'i, through their various trusts, has continued to make a difference for thousands of us for decade after decade - actually, for more than 100 years. With passing time, the number of beneficiaries of these ali'i trusts continues to increase. A wonderful, positive role model eame into my life, a young physieian, who consistently exemplifīes the value of caring for others. I have been on the receiving end of this young woman's thoughtfulness many times. Onee, as I struggled with putting my carry-on luggage into an overhead rack on an airplane, she jumped up from two rows in back of me. Climbing over another perSon to help, she said: "Aunty, let me help you with that." My embarrassment at being so inept, quickly faded. I was fortunate to spend a great deal of time in her company; she was constantly alert to assist me and to make sure that I was comfortable. Her parents ean be proud to have raised such a

thoughtful and considerate daughter. Kawena Pūku'i left us with two other 'ōlelo that are highly appropriate for these times. The first is: Kū nō i ke ke'a, whieh she interprets as, "He has the ways of his sire." The second one is: E like me ke keke'e o ka lālā lā'au, pēlā nō kona aka, whieh means "according to the crookedness of the branch, so is the crookedness of its shadow." Kupuna Pūku'i uses these 'ōlelo in discussing the old adage familiar in many cultures — like parent, like child. This also tells us that judgment is passed on families based on the behavior of their offspring, whieh makes it all the more important for parents to teach thoughtfulness and consideration and for youngsters to practice, until these qualities become second nature. Mrs. Pūku'i states that all Polynesians, including Hawaiians, were keen observers of physical, mental and temperamental characteristics of individuals, whieh were described in numerous terms and sayings, leaving a legacy of rules for proper actions and behavior. ■

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Ol AKINO