Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 2, 1 February 2004 — Let us advance and embrace our Queen's legacy by restoring Hawaiian governance [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Let us advance and embrace our Queen's legacy by restoring Hawaiian governance

Aloha mai kākou, e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā pulapula a Hāloa, mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau, a puni ke ao mālamalama. Aloha e nā kūpuna kahiko, nāna e ho'oulu mai nei iā kākou e holopono a loa'a e ka lei lanakila. Annually on January 15-17, we collectively bear witness to the humiliation and injustice suffered by Queen Lili'uokalani and our ancestors in the 1893 demise of Native Hawaiian governance. However, on Jan. 17, 2004, after 111 years, emerged initial steps to organize Native Hawaiian governance for the next century and beyond. In this 21st century, this process to organize Native Hawaiian governance is a serious, demanding and challenging one to be launched and delivered by Native Hawaiians. In November 1917 the earthly life of Queen Lili'uokalani ended, but the message she left for us in her waning days reminds us to be courageous in the face of change

and uncertainty, to be discerning in the face of trials and tribulations, to stay focused in the face of circumstances and obstacles seemingly insurmountable, and to remain clear thinking for the long term guided by a higher power, humhle spirit, keen sensitivity and honest perspective. She said: "I eoulā not turn back the time for the political change but there is still time to save our heritage. You must remember never cease to act because you fear you may fail. The way to lose any earthly kingdom is to be inflexible, intolerant, anā prejudicial. Another way is to be too flexible, tolerant of too many wrongs and without judgement at all. It is a razor's ed.ge. It is the width of a blade of pili grass. To gain the kingdom ofheaven is to hear what is not said, to see what ean not be seen, and to know the unknowahle. That is Aloha. All things in this world. are two; in heaven there is but one." In 2004, 87 years following the

Queen's passing, those who choose to, prepare now to embark on the collective journey toward the eollective destination to save our heritage and to chart our time for political change. The mission, journey and destination of raising our beloved nation — Ho'oulu Lāhui Aloha — is not exclusive to nor sole property of an institution, agency, coalition, eouneil or association. Raising our beloved nation is the kuleana of the Native Hawaiian people, both in Hawai'i and away from our shores. We who are of one eommon ancestor, Hāloa. KAU INOA. Affix our signatures. Be counted and participate in organizing our Native Hawaiian governing entity for the next 111 years and beyond. This bold but necessary process of Native Hawaiian self-determination fills Native Hawaiians with feelings of hope, optimism and resolve, as well as with feelings of anxiety, distrust, speculation and uncertainty. Some

of us Native Hawaiians will deal with these feelings by choosing to focus on the potentials of the future and the opportunities we will create. Other Native Hawaiians will lash out at eaeh other with words that are bitter and begrudge the process and the hands joined together to advance the decisionmaking. As we navigate these waters of change called Native Hawaiian self-determination, words of a master navigator eome to mind, We must remember: This is the time to get informed, this is the time to be clear thinking, this is not the time to be indecisive, and if we fail because we are not unified, what do we tell our children? For as Queen Lili'uokalani advised us decades ago, the world ean not stand still. We must either advance or recede. Let us advance together. Hold thy breath! Walk abreast, shoulder to shoulder. 39/48 ■

[?]

Haunani Apoliona, MSW Trustee, At-large