You really, really, really need to watch this video, youtu.be/HFuKr4ST0w8.
Produced by two of our very own, born and raised keiki o ka ‘aina, Chris Ka’iakapu and Racquel Jaclyn Segato-Figueroa, this video will both make you proud and hopefully motivate you to take action.
Two young people from our community motivated only by their own personal values and passion to make a difference initiated, developed and produced this powerful message.
I’m thinking they probably don’t realize how impactful their actions will prove to be. They’ve dropped not a pebble, but a sizable boulder into the water, and now we’ll see how far those ripples will go.
The topic of their seven-minute presentation is the proposed multi-billion-dollar Homeland Defense Radar – Hawai‘i facility at Pacific Missile Range Facility. The tools they rely on are just the facts presented in a straightforward manner. There is no political posturing, grandstanding or groundless accusations — just the facts presented by two young people with nothing to gain except their future.
Too many of us shirk from the responsibility and hide from the risks that accompany leadership. It’s so much easier to just stay home, hang out on the beach and throw rocks from a distance at those who do step up.
Watch the video to see for yourself. The moderators, one from the Westside and the other from the North Shore, seek only to inform and educate the viewer. None of the production is about them, but only about the facts and circumstances surrounding this important issue facing our community.
They put this all together. They took it upon themselves to initiate and implement this effort. They are now compelled to follow it through, and we should be compelled to join them.
They may not realize it themselves, but they are leaders. And for that, we as a community should be thankful. Given the dearth of genuine leadership in our world today, we should celebrate and support these two and others who on occasion step forward to embrace the obligation and accept the risk.
If you think as I do that the information presented is compelling, please then forward the link and share your thoughts on the issue with family and friends, and with our congressional delegation:
• Sen. Brian Schatz, schatz.senate.gov/contact;
• Sen. Mazie Hirono, hirono.senate.gov/share-your-opinion;
• Rep. Ed Case, case.house.gov/forms/writeyourrep/;
• Rep. Kai Kahele, kahele.house.gov/contact.
And when you see Chris and Racquel at the market, please tell them thank you, and offer to help.
Their actions have inspired me, and I hope likewise will inspire you.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead
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Gary Hooser is the former vice-chair of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and served eight years in the state Senate, where he was majority leader. He also served for eight years on the Kaua‘i County Council, and was the former director of the state Office of Environmental Quality Control. He serves in a volunteer capacity as board president of the Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action and is executive director of the Pono Hawai‘i Initiative.
