Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 37, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 2020 — Lāhui United, Lāhui Strong [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Lāhui United, Lāhui Strong

"Throw the 'ōpala (trash) from the garden of your heart and let only the golden blossoms of aloha grow there. Live aloha." - Queen Lili'uokalani (whose original name was Lydia Walania Kamaka'eha Pākī). An intelligent, strong and powerful woman who was also very gentle, loving and insightful, gifted with music and poetry; our last reigning queen

whose words are just as appropriate and meaningful today in this day and age as they were when she first spoke them. There is no one, no one who loved the Hawaiian people more than Queen Lili'uokalani. I couldn't help but think of her- her greatness and her aloha for Hawai'i, her lāhui - now with the elections behind us and with so many critically important issues in front of us as a nation and as a community - a people of Hawai'i. Regardless of whether the candidates you voted for were elected or not, we must remain united as a eommunity, a people of Hawai'i, a lāhui, because there are still so many important issues that remain. The ones that immediately eome to mind are our healthcare system, particularly during these challenging times of COVID19: the health and welfare of our keiki and kūpuna are critical; our mo'omeheu (eulture); the education of our keiki; water, environmental and 'āina mālama issues and concerns; our eeonomie survival; iwi kūpuna; and last but certainly not least, the 'ohana. Those who were elected into their specific offices are now tasked with resolving these issues and moving us forward to a better plaee, but they cannot do it without us. We must put our confidence in our newly elected officials and do all that we ean to support them, for our queen said, "Love of country is deep-seated in the breast of every Hawaiian whatever his station."

We must be united; we must i mua! This was never more evident than in the Kū Kia'i Mauna movement; defending and protecting her for as long as it takes, our people stand united! At the North Shore of O'ahu, our people defended the 'āina and the community against the loud monstrosity of windmills; and again in Kahului, Wailuku, Wailea, Kaua'ula and Waimānalo, protecting the 'āina and the iwi kūpuna.

Recently, I saw an ad for the Salvation Army as they are preparing for the holiday season and recraiting "bell ringers" that you see at the malls, shopping centers and outside the entrances and exits of your loeal grocery stores. Their marketing theme is "Community Strong - Love Unites All." That theme could not be more perfect, and it is exactly what we, as a Hawaiian people, need to eontinue to do. It is proven, tried and true! Our translation of this theme would be, "Lāhui Strong - Aloha Unites All." Or was that our theme on the mauna as we demonstrated peacefully! Nonetheless, this message must be put into action, again, for as long as it takes to overcome all of the challenges we are faced with and to bring our people, our lāhui, a thriving, safe and self-sustainable future for many, many generations to eome. As our Queen Lili'uokalani also onee said, "I could not turn back the time for the polkieal change, but there is still time to save our heritage. Never cease to act because you fear you may fail." I can't help but think that she is still speaking these words to us today, perhaps a little louder, so we must take heed and listen to our great monarch. Although her reign was abruptly cut short in 1893, she remains a lasting ieon, a lasting image of hope for the Hawaiian people. E aloha kekahi i kekahi; love one another. 'Onipa'a! ■

Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey TrustEE. Maui