‘One ‘ohana, one blood’

KAPA‘A — Hau‘oli means happy. It is a similar sounding word that can be derogatory, especially with certain adjectives in front of it, said Milton Chung, a participant in a Saturday discussion entitled “What does it mean to be ‘haole’ in Hawai‘i?”

Haole, as defined in the “Hawaiian Dictionary” by Mary Kawena Pukui and Samuel H. Elbert, means “white person, American, Englishman, Caucasian, any foreigner or of foreign origin.”

“I use the word Caucasian; it’s nicer and pleasant to everyone’s ears,” said Kumu Vern Kauanui, who was born and raised on Kaua‘i and is of Hawaiian ancestry.

The afternoon talk on the somewhat controversial subject was held at Children of the Land in the Kaua‘i Village Shopping Center. The event drew a crowd of some 35 people, largely of European descent from places around the world, such as Colorado and France.

There is also ha‘ole, with an okina. The first part (ha) means “breath” and the second part (‘ole) means “no,” Kauanui said.

This was the term coined to describe the missionaries who ultimately overthrew the monarchy and “changed history” after settling in the Islands in the 1800s, following Captain Cook’s arrival in 1778, he said.

“Missionaries promised everything to royalty,” Kauanui said. They spoke, but had no meaning: ha‘ole. The royalty “had no choice but to go along,” he said.

Kauanui told the diverse group gathered for the discussion that he doesn’t blame anyone now for what has happened over time.

“We are all one ‘ohana, one blood,” he said.

Even though “white man came in and brought fever and disease” to the Islands, killing thousands of Hawaiians, Chung said, “when I grew up … we were all people. Human. Chinese, Japanese, haole.”

The problem was “we are only caretakers of the land,” he said. “White man came and said this is my land.”

Wanting to attend the event to “see what you guys complain about,” Chung said he wished to find out if there was a way to “make it better.”

The past is the past, said Bronson Tandal, a man of half Hawaiian and half Filipino descent.

“When you grow up here, you just don’t like haoles,” he said. “But all that stuff is nonsense to me … life is too short.”

Besides, if Americans did not come here, “somebody else would have,” Tandal said. “I’d rather be American … more freedom.”

However, “you can’t forget the past, especially injustice,” said Ray Catania, who has “plantation roots” and a “responsibility” to “raise awareness of sovereignty.”

When the Islands became a state, especially on O‘ahu where he was living, everything changed, he said.

Even so, “everybody here are all brothers and sisters,” Catania said. “We may have different viewpoints, but we’re all here together.”

It “takes courage to come together” and talk about issues like this, said Marina Smerling, who organized the Kaua‘i Nonviolent Communication event.

The intention of the gathering was to invite people of all races to join in the conversation. Smerling said she regrets not doing “a better job of reaching out to the Hawaiian community.”

“Everyone is welcome in this room for all races to be heard,” she said.

“So often we talk at each other,” she added, rather than really listen.

On Kaua‘i “there has been so much tension … so much anger over the years” because “a lot of abuses and injustices” creates “a lot of pain,” Smerling said.

“We want to respect each other … we all have different perspectives,” said attendee Anne Punohu who is half Native American, half European, but was raised by Hawaiians and “owe these guys my life.”

Kauanui invited all participants to “learn anything about sovereignty” and thanked “all the visitors who have made this their home … we welcome you,” he said.

“Honor the past, respect the future,” Kauanui said.

“In order to get on, we need to forgive. You don’t keep dwelling … holding on to something not there anymore,” Tandal said. “Forgive, but never forget.”

• Coco Zickos, business and environmental writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com.