Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 1, 1 Ianuali 1988 — Makaku [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Makaku

By Rocky Ka'iouliokahihikolo 'Ehu Jensen

My 1 988 Wish List

Wouldn't it be niee if 1988 marked the beginning for total awareness concerning Native Hawaiian Art? Wouldn't it be niee to see Native Hawaiian artists be commissioned to do works of art for ALL Federal and State Buildings in Hawai'i? Especially those who carry our ali'i names? And wouldn't it be niee to be called on to

decorate our hotels and condominiums with art depicting the myths and legends of our glorious nation? And how about the thought of creating magnificent Polynesian abstract art forms to grace our airport, so that visitors coming to these islands recognize the fact that they are indeed in Hawai'i and not in Florida, Los Angeles or New York.

One of my very fondest dreams is to see a sculpture park. . ,but not just any sculpture park. 1 would like to see a park totally dedicated to sculptures that deal with OUR heroes and heroines. . ,OUR ancestors and OUR art form. I would like to see the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts spend some real money for native art work. I would like to see those Hawaiians who work for such entities stand by THEIR people and initiate any opportunity that might benefit THEM. I would very mueh like to see a Native Hawaiian Culture Center that revolves around a policy dictated by OUR people

and for OUR people. Of course, this could only eome about if there were no jealousy and favoritism amongst OUR people. I would like to see less jealousy amongst our people, especially our artists. I would like to see a Native Hawaiian Art Council created so that the problems involving Native Arts could be directly addressed and not thrown into a bag with the OTHER ethnic groups of these islands. I would like to see OUR art form respecied on equal terms with that of the Westerner and Oriental. I would like to see more people in high places acknowledge us as experts in our field. I would like to see less patronization and pandering and more earnest admiration. Admiration that comes from under-

standing our culture and hana no'eau. I would like to see more sharing, less greed and definitely more spiritual communication. I would like to see a eommunion of the native arts by those who create them. 1 would like to see OUR work plastered NATIONWlDE. I would like to see invitations from national and international museums and galleries. And how about the galleries here in Hawai'i nei? I would like to see our artists receive more awards. I would like to see less favoritism from those who dole out native awards and opportunities. 1 would like to see tokenism disappear from our life. I would like to see our remaining Ali'i become true patrons of the arts. . .it would make a difference. I would like to see THEM interested in other things beside hula or the palaee.

I guess what I'm saying is that after 15 years of fighting the battle for the N ative State of the Arts in Hawai'i, I have eome to the conclusion that I'm only one nut in a sack. If, perhaps, we use our future to kako'o. . .support, then maybe we ean ALL experience the true renaissance. Native Hawaiian Art is always the last to be considered, amongst the whites and EVEN OUR OWN PEOPLE. And yet, it is the first to be considered by anthropologist, historians and archeologist of all

nations. Art is the written word of a people. Music changes, even language changes, but the written word of the ancient sculptor and crafts people is eonstant. . .telling wonderful stories from wonderful people. If we are to evolve as a nation, if we are to build and become strong. . .then we must recognize the most ancient vehicle of eommunieahon. . .the high arts. We must eome out of the world of mediocrity and recognize that art is the spiritual uplifter. . ,that art is the medium by whieh we documentate emotions from the spirit. If we don't see the importance of this, we will always be a fractured race of cultural nomads. Mai Ka Po Mai Ka 'Oia' I'o!