Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 1, 1 January 1993 — We are the nourishment ot our destiny [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

We are the nourishment ot our destiny

by the Rev. Moses K. Keale Sr. Trustee, Kaua'i & Ni'ihau Every year is a significant year for the Hawaiian and 1993 is no

exception. We begin this year with the commemoration of an event of tragedy and great sorrow. Let us keep this loss in perspective regardless of the form of government, regardless of the labels of leadership, regardless of

the right or the wrong. What is truly important about a tragedy, an event of great sorrow, the passing of a dear friend or family member is that it affects everyone. For Hawaiians, the effect is always mueh stronger because we believe that what affects eaeh member of our 'ohana affects the health and welfare of all.

Although we are strongly independent people, we have always maintained the strongest of family unity. This is what distinguishes us from others. This is

the lesson we learned from our ancestors. This is the basis of our cultural legacy. While all of us are reminded about the events that significantly changed our way of life, I ask you to not lose sight of

those things that we must defend today. Although we remind ourselves about the loss of the Kingdom of Hawai'i, we must put that in its proper perspective. The lesson to learn about 1893 and the years that led up to it, was that the erosive eancer began before 1893. It ate our independence slowly, ineh by ineh. The demise of our

Kingdom was the final blow. It is said that a truly great society learns quickly from its mistakes. It is said that a truly great people lets no one or no thing divert its resolve. It is said that a truly great culture is finally judged by its unity: on its unity stands its destiny. Let us demonstrate that we have learned from the mistakes of the past. There are five great trusts that belong to you and to me. The first great trust is familiar to us all - the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Estate. Entrusted to us by our ali'i to ensure that our children will have the very best opportunity to gain the educational foothold to guaranteed the future of our race! The second great trust is the Queen Lili'uokalani Trust. Entrusted to us by our ali'i to ensure that our orphaned ehildren are cared for and nurtured. The third great trust is embodied in the Hawaiian Home Lands

Trust. Entrusted to us by our ali'i to ensure that Hawaiians will always have a home land, a base to eall their own, a plaee to live and raise their families. The fourth great trust is the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Entrusted to us by the people of our ali'i to fight for us, to lead us in this modem day, to reverse the tide of disbursement and displaeemeni of our available resources, to lead us to a modern future. The fifth and final trust is us - the Hawaiian people. Entrusted to guarantee that the spirit of our people lives on. Entrusted to guarantee that the memory of the past lives forever. Entrusted to ensure that our people have a better plaee to live and raise their children forever. Entrusted to stand together so that no person, no group of people, no government, no judicial system, no vested interests ean ever, ever, erode the will of our Hawaiian

people, our trust assets, our legacy. As a member of that fifth trust, have you done whatever you ean to do your part to ensure that the future of our 'ohana? Remember, there will be prosperity in unity, truth and justice. You must support unity and justice. You must defend what is pono! In the words of our Queen, "If we have nourished in our bosom those who have sought our ruin, it has been because they were of the people whom we believed to be our dearest friends and allies. ... The people of the Islands have no voice in determining their future. ..." But we do have a ehoiee and we are wiser. Our future is in our hands. Help guide it wisely and with eompassion. A i mana'o kekahi e lilo i po'okela i waena o 'oukou, e pono no lilo ia i kauwa nā 'oukou. Nā ke Akua e mālama a e alaka'i ia kākou apau.