Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 2, 1 Pepeluali 2001 — Embracing challenges, continuing the legacy [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Embracing challenges, continuing the legacy

ANOTHER YEAR is upon us and another momentous occasion has passed. Jan. 17 marked 108 years since the American businessmen and U.S. agents and armed forces overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom and its mō'ī, Lili'uokalani. Jan. 17 also marks 8 years since we eame together as a people under the ban-

ner of "'Onipa'a" with the intent of reestablishing a nation and uplifting our people in the process. OHA, via Article XII of the State constitution, will be 23 years old at the end of this legislative session. During these years we have learned many things about the state and its limitations, the struggle to keep good social programs afloat, the challenges that face a fledgling organization working through growing pains, and the

emergence ol hope through grass roots sovereignty and independence efforts. We are also witnessing a well-orga-nized attack on what httle governmental programs there are left for our native people. However, this attack should eome as no surprise. We need only look back 108 years ago to reahze that the influerices and factors that led to the

overthrow are the same issues motivating the current effort to dismantle OHA, DHHL, and other Hawaiian programs and institutions. Our journey is far from over and will require the same courage and grace displayed by our Queen Lili'uokalani when faced with the loss of her government and the sovereignty of

I; the people. To that end, I let us all recall her wisdom in time of great pressure and never settle for anything less: "I could not turn back the timefor the political change, but there is still time to save our heritage. You must remember never to cease to act because : you fear you may fail. The way to lose any l earthly kingdom is to be inflexible, intolerant, Iand prejudicial. Another way is to be tooflexible. tolerant oftoo manv

wrongs and without judgement at all. It is a razor's edge. It is the width ofa blade ofpili grass. To gain the kingdom ofheaven is to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowahle - that is Aloha. All things in this world are two; in heaven there is but One." — Lili'uokalani, 1917 ■

[?]