Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 6, 1 June 2014 — Escaping the cage of ignorance [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Escaping the cage of ignorance

very April I look forward to making my pilgrimage to Hilo to attend the Merrie Mon-

arch Festival. I've been doing this for the past

25 years - an annual tradition. I always leave awed by the excellenee of our hula practitioners who work with their haumana to bring to fruition their interpretations and creations of chants and dances. Without a doubt, this week could not be replicated anywhere else in the world as these are the best expressions of hula and mele. The performances are so good that I wonder how they

could possibly surpass the new standards they have set the following year? Yet, as incredible as it seems, they do it. Eaeh year the Kumu Hula and their hālau return with still more surprises and breathtaking presentations that raise the bar even higher. This is a testament to the intelligence, the greatness and the eultural wealth of our people. I recognize this brilliance and creativity in every part of our Hawaiian community. I realize the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is under intense scrutiny in these recent months because of our support of Kana'iolowalu and our role in "Nalion building." The recent action of our Pouhana, Dr. Kamana'opono Crabbe, in his query to Secretary of State John Kerry and our reaction as a Board are also being scrutinized. We will have to work through the questions of process and protocol that this episode raises. And I am confident we will. But I would like to note that having traveled around the different islands and listened to what people are saying, I know the questions raised in the letter are legitimate ones. I have gone to Keaukaha, Waimānalo, Anahola, Waikapū, Lahaina and Paukūkalo and have heard the cry of our people and, therefore, understand

their need to address practical issues that they confront in their lives. Will the effort we are engaged in affect

the Social Security payments on whieh they live? Will they lose their health care coverage? Sitting in offices in Honolulu it is sometimes too easy to ignore the voices that eome from across the islands. As I participated in the community meetings around our pae 'āina, I heard the testimonies of the many kānaka, passionately sharing their mana 'o as to their frustrations with the time it has taken for the Lāhui to be able to realize its goals. There are many

differences of opinion. But the fact that people are speaking out without fear is testament to the intelligence and the sense of urgency our people feel. I do believe the path to greatness is always marked by struggle and strife. Our situation today is merely a bump in the road, a part of the struggle to achieve what we all dream and hope for. I mahalo eaeh and every one of you who take the time to eome to these community meetings. We are all pa'ahana so I realize the sacrifice of time is great. Our great scholar from Maui, Kaleikoa Ka'eo, made a very moving and impassioned presentation about what it really takes to build a Nalion at the last Board of Trustees meeting on Maui. He rightly said that what we need most to address the challenges facing us is education. And the courage to face the truth. It is worth repeating his words of caution: "Fear of asking the hard questions keeps you in the cage. And what is the worst cage? The cage of ignorance." Finally, he also reminded us that our Queen Lili'uokalani onee said: "The voice of the people is the voice of God." Please know that I am listening. ■

LEO 'ELELE k www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org TRUSTEE MESSSAGES f NATIVE HAWAIIAN » NEWS | FEATURES | EVENTS

Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey

Trustee, Maui