The ʻŌlelo Noʻeau, “He aliʻi ka ʻāina, he kauwā ke kānaka,” is foundational to my personal life mission and values. By seeing the land as chief, people its servant, it provides a Hawaiian perspective of the world, and how we care for our ʻāina, our relationships with ʻāina, each other, and ourselves. Returning to this Hawaiian perspective will facilitate the ʻāina justice we are seeking for healing as individuals, communities, and our ʻāina.
My hope is that we can (re)remember and adopt this perspective to embody the unique qualities and values of Hawaiʻi such as aloha ʻāina. Let us continue to work through the difficult conversations together, share in the fight for justice, to ensure a sustainable and better future for our keiki and the generations to come. Let us be the communities of aloha that share in this journey together, sustain ourselves with the life-giving foods and waters of this place, and cultivate nurturing homes filled with aloha, music, hula, and laughter. Sharing goods with neighbors too.