Kokua is a Hawaiian word, that translates as "extending loving, sacrificial help to others for their benefit, not for personal gain..." Hawaii indeed has something to teach the world, other than the Hula. If you remember, Hawaiians embraced visitors from the outside world with a smile, flower leis, and their word for 'welcome' and 'love,' "Aloha."
And what did Americans do when they were thusly invited as a guest into their beautiful islands?
American businessmen, with the help of a garrison of US Marines overthrew Hawaii's queen by arresting and imprisoning her and claimed Hawaii for America... Hawaiians will never forget that.
Yet, they smile, drape a flower lei over your shoulders, and say softly, "Aloha."
The world is a global economy and America has long dominated it with little regard for the wellbeing of people abroad, often supporting dictatorial regimes that brought harm to its own citizens, including those of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, of Marcos in the Philippines, Pinochet in Chile, Batista in Cuba, and many more. In Hawaii, it set up a new government and abandoned the Hawaiian monarchie, not to liberate the Hawaiian people, but to control the strategically situated island group and carve up its resources so that greedy businessmen could build legacies that to this day bear their names (and shame as plunderers of 'paradise'). The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has a long and tainted past, with few Hawaiians having benefitted from its programs. A once proud nation reduced to entertainers and workers at Waikiki hotels...
You may not agree with my sketch of American-Hawaiian history, but it does illustrate a policy of greed, military might, and mingling in the affairs of independent nations. Any parallels with the present are, of course, purely coincidental, but one may deduct that "freedom," when administered by US Marines, may be harmful to your wellbeing.
As responsible global citizens we ought to extend 'kokua' to the global community and people in less industrialized communities or countries striving to establish a valid economic existence—often engaged in agriculture and the production of handmade products. The politics of the past have not quite resulted in creating 'friends for life' overseas, and American corporations have further eroded goodwill with predatory practices. Still, as American businesses we should be encouraged to design and manufacture either locally or abroad, without bringing harm to the American worker—a current theme of 'Buy America' protectionists that are nationalistic in sentiment.
If anything, small businesses are able to bring products to market at a fair price that otherwise never would have been produced in the United States, including Hawaii. So, that 'Hawaiian' puka shell necklace you bought in Haleiwa on Oahu's North Shore may have been manufactured in the Philippines. Does it really matter?
Let's not become myopic at a time when the internet is empowering communities around the world and enabling people to trade with one another products and ideas in a peaceful manner. That the large multinational corporations (who themselves are exporting and outsourcing tens of thousands of American jobs) may not like our new trade model is just too bad. Have you been laid off or fired by one of them already? Ebay may be your next source of income. Perhaps if large corporations had behaved as responsible world citizens (think of Dow subsidiary Union Carbide and the environmental disaster in Bhopal, India, that has yet to be cleaned up) people abroad would view American corporations differently. It may be up to us, as consumers, employees, and entrepeneurs to engage in responsible trade that brings pride and approval to all involved, and makes the end-user feel good about their choice. A little Kokua goes a long way. Then, when we are respected as friends we can share our values and perhaps—and never at the point of a gun—spread our personal interpretation of 'Aloha.'
Sure, there will always be large companies trying to dominate one another in the global marketplace, and powerful businessmen will keep finding ways to secure themselves of profit with the aid of politicians and at the cost of shattered lives at home and abroad. It's up to each of us to counterbalance that and engage with one another by spreading Aloha and Kokua. Let every decision be one of vision. A long-lasting vision for long-lasting peace. This we understand better when someone smiles, drapes a flower lei over your shoulders, and says, "Aloha."
©2004 Rudolf Helder
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6 comments:
Your commentary is not too far off. Shameful history.
Now the Japanese own Hawaii.
I definitely believe in your message of love and acceptance, and the missionaries from all nations were not kind to the Hawaiians. The systematic destruction of Hawaiian culture, along with nearly all other native cultures conqured by white Americans on their march west, is nothing short of shameful.
However, Hawaii's deep water ports and strategic location meant it was goind to be conqured, if not by America, then one of the other industrialized nations of the Pacific. At least now America, secure in her power, is trying to make amends for past mistakes, and is getting better at acknowledging and respecting other cultures. I'm not sure the same could be said for the other powers who could have potentially become the rulers of the Hawaiian islands.
What if the shell necklace from the Philippines was made with child labor? Or, what if it came from China and was made with prison labor. Or, from Bangladesh made in a hellish sweatshop? And let's not forget that the native Hawaiians practiced a caste system where the lower caste were treated as slaves. I think you would prefer that only if you could be in the ruling caste.
a lot of these comments do ring true, and even Hawaii Boy reminds us that self examination is key before we move out to outside influences, but I also can say, being a member of a Trail tribe, that American influence has never really been one of giving freedom. Our native tribes have often been first influenced at the point of a gun. As such, we tend to see the USA as conqueror and occupier, and we are not wrong, yet, we are also in need of keeping ourselves with dignity. There is a point where you state your piece and let people decide how to proceed. Bill Clinton apologizing for the hawaiian occupation and subsequent annexation is a start. It needs to be multiplied by hundreds for every tribe. I would love to see a possible Hawaiian independence in my lifetime. =)
The one thing I learned by living in Hawaii (O'ahu) is that if you're from the Mainland or anywhere else in the world, just come and respect that the islands are NOT your culture and you should respect that it isn't "The United States." My husband is from Hawaii, but he's a "haole moke" as he grew up there. When he was little, about 3 years old, living in Kalihi, his mom told him to go outside and play. He walked up to some local women, weaving baskets, and he asked if they would teach him. The ladies thought it was cute a little baby would want to learn to weave. But, a big brown man, also local (could be Samoan, could be Hawaiian), stopped and asked him where he lived. He led him to his apartment and his mom opened the door. The man told his mom, "Your son wants to learn how to weave with the ladies. Is that ok with you?" His mom said, "Yes, that is fine." The man said, "But it's part of our culture, and if your Haole boy wants to be involved in our culture, he needs to be immersed in all of our culture, meaning if he disrespects our culture, he gets lickins like he's one of our own." His mother said, "That's not a problem."
My husband, if you had your eyes closed, wouldn't know he had blond hair and green eyes. It was funny, because those that didn't know him, and saw us in public thought I was the local and he was the Haole. When they heard my accent and his, they would be completely confused. Now that we stay in the Mainland, people still are confused, because some people have never heard his accent before, or the dialect, and come up with crazy places like, "Are you from Russia/Iceland/etc."
He keeps the Aloha, even in the Mainland, and some people just can't accept that out here. They think it's flirting or trying too hard. For him, it's a way of life.
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