Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 6, 1 June 2008 — The three "anities" [ARTICLE]

The three "anities"

I would like to offer my thoughts on the subject of 'Iolani Palaee being a wahi pana. Wahi pana, I feel, are sacred places. But being a minimally educated kanaka, I would not know or elaim to understand if a building ean qualify. That being said, 'Iolani Palaee to me should be more of a functioning palaee rather than a museum-like dead entity. Mahealani Kahau's presence there is utilizing that function through her understanding of the truth that the Hawaiian Kingdom exists. By her and her 'ohana being there, it is an affmnation of that. (Editor's note: Kahau heads the independence group Hawaiian Kingdom Govermnent, whieh resumed its

seat of government on the palaee grounds since April 30.) Looking at the royal societies standing tall and proud on the palaee grounds in response to Mahealani's actions, Iamreminded of the Berlin Wall. Is it there to keep what's inside intact or to keep out the eommon riffraff? Me, I been inside the 'Iolani Palaee uninvited and free and I tell you this, them limestones was singing to me Iames Brown - "get on uppa, get on up." Our palaee knew we eame in for bring life not fertilize morbidity. For myself I cannot elaim to carry the na'au of a nation or the kanaka culture within me as the only truth. For as the wall of royalty stands and proclaims its truth, there must be two truths or one of us is lying. I applaud Mahealani and her 'ohana for standing up even whilst knowing that they could possibly face prosecution and ridicule. While America remains our No. 1 detriment, we are also guilty by our association with the three "anities": vanity, insanity and Christianity. Keli'i loane Jr. Hila, Hawai'i lsland