#395: A Native Remake
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Many years ago, while finishing up a day's work picking and packing cucumbers, an elderly gentleman who was helping that day assured me that the threatening sky would hold off what looked like a sure downpour until I'd finished. He was a native Hawaiian, born around 1900, possibly before the islands were seized by American businessmen in the 1890s. And he was right, the rain did wait.
Another vivid memory I have is my native Hawaiian friend greeting me on New Year's Day. He seemed to sing his salutation, like a warbling bird, one extended phrase followed by another, and another again. I remember my chagrin at not knowing how to respond in kind.
Native Hawaiians have a good case to make that their government's overthrow was illegitimate and a great wrong--especially since it was executed by Americans who should have known better.
All this is sorted through in a recent article, What Does America Owe Hawaii?, appearing in The Atlantic's January '25 issue, written by Adrienne LaFrance, herself having grown up on the islands. Its subtitle is: The Hawaiians Who Want Their Nation Back.
Though it's tempting to revisit the article's highlights, I'll instead point out something that's probably occurred to many readers: native Hawaiian culture is widely admired, and millions of people around the world not only sympathize with, but would dearly like to assist Native Hawaiians in re-establishing their cultural nation. What's holding things up?
Come up with a plan that would see native culture rejuvenated. For example:
* Here's where a first dwelling is to be built.
* This family/community/village-to-be has been chosen by our group.
* There are many more waiting to get started, each with a proposed plan.
* Here is what the land, etc., will cost.
* These criteria are what we use in picking each plan.
* This is what our first selection will look like, once built.
* If we find the financing, we will grow this big.
* Here is what we hope to accomplish in 50 years.
If a visionary plan (the above is a blank canvass) is coupled with fairly well-known fundraisers, the sky's the limit.
Kicking off the fundraising, I'd donate $250 just to see a plan come together.
