Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 11, 1 November 2006 — Hawaiian superheroes [ARTICLE]

Hawaiian superheroes

The siimmer of '27 blockbuster movie was 'Ekolu X, based on the life of the Crown Prince Kamehameha XXX. Cloned from the remains of Kamehameha the Great, 'Ekolu X (played with bravado by rising loeal star ehamp Kapanui) became known as a nihilist Hawaiian activist and extreme sports enthusiaist. Recruited at a young age into the service of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Security Council, he is frrst assigned to infiltrate the North Korean crime ring called Anarchy 22, whose access to kalo bioterrorism was making the people in Hawai'i nervous. With the help of some manatech gadgets from Kahuna 'Ohana Mike, 'Ekolu X rises to defend the Hawaiian kingdom against poi contaiiiination. Rap versions of Bruddah Iz's tunes accompany the

renegade fighter as he drives his tricked-out '87 Camaro into enemy territory, throwing laser spears, chanting deadly curses and outscootering a CG'd lava Uow. The climax of the movie has 'Ekolu X throwing evil agents off the side of Chinaman's Hat while avoiding Aloha-seeker missiles with the help of reformed turncoat spy Rawlene. Our hero wins the day and returns to his palaee atop the Hill of the Whale in Kona. There is talk in Hollywood of an 'Ekolu X sequel involving an attempt by an evil faction of Big Island ranchers and developers to kidnap Bishop Estate Trustee Kamaile Lono by hijacking her yacht. The point of this parody being: Don't look to the movies for Hawaiian role models. Look to your own families and your Hawaiian commiinity for heroes. My father served his country as a paratrooper in the Korean conflict only to be called "Pineapples" by his fellow soldiers and officers. In my neighborhood, our own Team Papakōlea is doing well in the Pride Ultimate Fighting Circuit, while instilling our youth with precious values and character. John Kapanui Papakālea, O'ahu