Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 2, 1 February 1990 — The 80s -- earth ravaged; the 90s -- renewal? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The 80s -- earth ravaged; the 90s -- renewal?

by Moanikeala Akaka Trustee, Hawai'i

For the 'aina, the media says, the 80s have been a time of great awakening! There is a growing awareness locally, nationally, and internationally about the fragile nature of our earth, and how, like it or not, we are really

one huge interdependent ecosystem. The words "No man is an island" are not trite shibai, but an indication of the need for people and all their leaders to band together for a better, more humane and habitable world or there will be no world as we now know it. Yet, as Hawaiians and other native peoples, our cultural value systems have always been that of Aloha 'Aina, malama (cherish) ka 'aina, to live in tune with the 'aina using conservation practices. This is our natural native way. You don't foul or pollute your own nest, yet that is exactly what is happening to this planet earth, our home. Polluhon knows no nahonal boundaries as proven by the Chernobyl nuclear accident and the ehemieal spill on the Rhine River in Europe several years ago. These tragedies helped trigger the success of the Green Party environmental movement that has swept Western Europe in recent years. There is growing realization that people must unite for a more sane environment and world. They ean make a difference! The Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska was a catastrophic desecration of that pristine area, its resources and wildlife. The fact that it took Exxon five days to react to the spill shows a laek of corporate capability to respond to the accident. They appear to have little eonscience, responsibility or eoneem for anything but their profits. The 80s have been the decade of corporate greed run rampant! Boesky, the savings and loan fiasco, HUD scandals, Iran-Contra-gate, military spending frauds, and cost overruns are but a few of the eeonomie deceptions that have been pulled on the American public.

However, the world is changing rapidly. Perestroika, an easing of nuclear tensions, the crumbling of the Berlin Wall whieh, we hope, indicates an end to the cold war give encouragement to all humankind in our quest for a saner, safer world and for the survival of this planet. The easing of world tensions will allow this nation and others to shift their priorities from a preoccupation with military defense to defense of our global environment. Large drift nets from Japan and Korea, whieh continue to threaten our oeean marine life, must be immediately banned. One of these indiscriminate death traps sweeps over a 25 mile swath down to depths of over 40 feet strangling everything in its path. The global destruction of our rainforests, pollution, the ozone layer, and the greenhouse effect are making us realize that, regardless of eeonomie philosophies or sovereign boundaries, the world's people and governments must pull together if this planet is to survive. The United Nations has proclaimed 1990 as "The Year of the Environment." The 90s will actually be the decade of the environment. The time has eome to pay respect to the 'aina, for if we do not correct earth abuses in the 90s, it will be too late!

We must remember that if there is now a lessened nuclear threat globally, it is in part because people are becoming actively involved — in their communities, nationally and internationally, — in turning back this nuclear tide. That is what "people power" — democracy — is all about. We must also do this for the environment. Globally there is greater awareness about the importance of rainforests. Yetitisthroughactions and networks like the Rainforest Action Group that people are being educated about the importanee of rainforests to those who inhabit them and to the planetary ecosystem.

The highly respected Christian Science Monitor newspaper published an article Dec. 11, 1989 entitled "Last Rainforest in U.S. is Threatened." It was about our Wao Kele O Puna, Pele's domain now under attack by geothermal developers. The Monitor article said, "The destruction of Hawaii's lowland rainforest would hurt efforts to convince third-world nations to protect their forests." On Dec. 30, 1989, on CNN television, U.S. Rep. James Scheuer (D-NY) asked, "How ean we tell Brazil not to destroy its rain forests while the U.S. (and Gov. Waihee) pursue the destruction of the rainforest in Hawai'i." In December almost 50 people were arrested for protecting Pele's domain at Wao Kele rainforest. I and my 'ohana were amongst those 50 people. I am proud that my 14-year-old daughter decided on her own to p>articipate in this act of civil disobedience. She told me, "Mom, it's our future, and we young ones had better do something about it (the 'ohia forest) before it's too late!" On Jan. 31, 1990, CNN Television broadcast that in this next decade young people throughout

the world will actively address the destruction of the environment nationally and internationally. I see this already beginning to happen in Hilo. Recently the surfers were able to save Honolii Bay, a rare and favorite surfing spot outside of Hilo, from a hydroelectric power plant. Hilo High School students are getting more and more involved and concerned about Wao Kele O Puna Rainforest. Protecting the 'aina should be a community and family affair. Our paradise is threatened. In keeping with the spirit of the nineties, we should support election of only those candidates who are serious and environmentally aware. We Hawaiians are a powerful and influential native people in the Amenean republic. Everyone loves Hawai'i — we ean, should, and must, show all of the USA that we are not going to allow Hawai'i to go the way of the Love Canal and polluted waters of the continental USA. We owe it to ourselves, our future generations and the world to save Hawai'i from brutal and thoughtless exploitation. There are some things money ean never buy: onee our forests and sea are plundered, Hawai'i will be no more. Let us act now to Aloha the 'Aina, correct current environmental abuses and set our sights on protecting what we are responsible to preserve: our 'aina. Malama pono. Hau'oli makahiki hou. Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono.

O ka pi'i no ia a Koki-o-Wailau. Ascended to the topmost part of Wailau. An expression of admiration for one who reaches the top in spite of difficulties. From: " 'O/e/o No'eau: Hawaiian Proverbs & Poeiieal Sapings," Bishop Museum Press.