"Who is Hawaiian..?" 'Michael A. Herr' (Aloha Friday)

Renowned author Michael Herr is back guest-blogging on this awesome Aloha Friday talking about  the definition of what it is to be Hawai'iaan?  Make sure and check out Michael's website at; http://www.michaelherr.com/

ALOHA FRIDAY-"No Work 'Til Monday" 

 Who is Hawaiian ?



Aloha folks.

Who can call themselves Hawaiian? A much-discussed, much-debated question.

According to the Federal Government, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, a Native Hawaiian (Kanaka Maoli) is anyone with at least one-half blood quantum . . . fifty percent Hawaiian blood. But native Hawaiian (note the small 'n') is anyone with any amount of Hawaiian blood. However, it's getting harder and harder to find Native Hawaiians (look up And Then There Were None on Amazon.com and get either/both the great book and the wonderful DVD). Now, how did the Feds and OHA arrive at that specific blood quantum? By fiat, imposed by the Federal Government over the objections of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana'ole when he could not get the Federal Government to agree to a lower percentage (one thirty-second was what he originally wanted). The higher percentage was passed because it was hoped/thought by those in Congress at the time that in this way the Hawaiian race would fade from view.

The dispute over blood quantum goes on to this day. Many opponents hold that there should be no blood quantum at all. That insistence on the use of blood quantum to define Native Hawaiians reduces Hawaiians to a racial minority. For further background, look into the "one-drop rule" for blacks and also check out the various blood quantum numbers for different Native American tribes.

I prefer Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's definition (given as a preface to a song he sang one night). I paraphrase - - - "A Hawaiian is anyone who holds Hawaii within their heart". According to Iz, I am Hawaiian. And I must say that I generally feel Hawaiian. Does this mean that tourists are Hawaiians? Not necessarily, but it does mean that they could be Hawaiians. It also means that when someone moves from Hawaii to some state (such as Nevada) they don't have to forsake their Hawaiian identity.

Forget the question of who can call themselves Hawaiian. Let's return to the topic question, Who is Hawaiian? My answer, like Iz's, is that besides those born in Hawaii, besides those who move to Hawaii to live and work and play, besides those whose parents were Hawaiian but who moved far away . . . in addition to all those I believe that a Hawaiian is anyone who loves the islands, who longs for the islands, and who carries within them at all times the spirit of Aloha. The spirit of love, charity, caring, sympathy, compassion, grace and mercy. If these are within you, if you show these and act on these, and if you love the islands, then you are Hawaiian.

So, are you Hawaiian?

Okay folks, see you next week.

 Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...




check out Michael's website at http://www.michaelherr.com/ 

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

"RIP" Mr. Stoessel..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen

I did not personally know Mr. Stoessell however I would like to acknowledge his many Letters to the editor which frequented the editorial pages of the Kaua'i Garden Island news.

Aloha, check out my opinion article in the 09-28-12 edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island news,"RIP Mr. Stoessel."
 http://thegardenisland.com/promo/homepage/letters-to-the-editor-for-friday-september/article_5136147a-0952-11e2-8472-001a4bcf887a.html

"RIP"  Mr. Stoessel..."

I read  with sadness and dismay in the obituaries that Horace Stoessel had passed away.http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/obituaries/obituaries-for-wednesday-september/article_d9c978cc-022c-11e2-ab74-0019bb2963f4.html

I did not personally know Mr. Stoessell however I would like to acknowledge his many Letters to the editor which frequented the editorial pages of the Kaua'i Garden Island news.  Most  of
his letters were factual accounts of county government.

Horace  made me have a better understanding of many political actions that took place in our local island government.

Whether you agreed or dis-agreed  he cared about his community and voiced his opinions many times on how he felt we could better our Cosmic Island.  I remember one letter in particular  about how the salary commission raised  nearly every local politicians salary  during the brink  and peak of the current economic crisis. The salary increase would  immediately take effect unless of course our county council  nullified it in whole or part, which never happened since nobody  wanted to vote down a salary increase for themselves.http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-saturday-february/article_80a44d0e-2c18-5ddc-a4fe-49c1948c2da0.html

Mr Stoessel, I will miss your frequent opinion articles  which opened  my eyes to  many local issues.

From one frequent Letter writer to another, mahalo Nui Loa Mr. Stoessel and may you rest in peace.


Aloha, check out my opinion article in the 09-28-12 edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island news,"RIP Mr. Stoessel."
http://thegardenisland.com/promo/homepage/letters-to-the-editor-for-friday-september/article_5136147a-0952-11e2-8472-001a4bcf887a.html

 
Hana Hou, (Encore)  Shared from Facebook...

Check out the photo of my dog 'Obama' and myself in this weeks, Midweek Kaua'i magazine!
http://www.midweekkauai.com/2012/09/focus-on-kauai-10/

"Birds on Kaua'i..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Guest-blogger Bettejo Dux is one of Kauai's most delightful  people, she has lived on the cosmic island of Kaua'i for over 40 years... She is an animal lover, people lover and enjoys life to the fullest. Today she talks about birds on Kaua'i in memory of hurricane Iniki which shattered the island of Kauai on September 11, 1992 while  September 11, 2001 shattered our nation  www.bettejodux.com

BIRDS ON KAUAI

I’m not going to describe them, I’m not a bird watcher, but I am a bird listener. My jungle house is an aviary. I’m awakened and put to sleep by the songs of these incredible creatures. They love it here. My land is bird friendly.

On September 11, 1992, I was awakened by a clatter. Early morning jangles make me nervous. I scurried to the kitchen. I had one phone.  It stood there staunchly, red lights flashing. When I put the receiver to my ear, I could hear Billy’s voice.
“Mom,” his voice crackled thick with urgency. I thought there was a problem in Honolulu, but before I could speak he  did, “Know you don’t listen to the news. Storm’s coming. Big. Turn the radio on.”
I’m not a cool-head. My first response to disaster is panic. Standing in silent stillness I  screamed and yelled and tore my hair.
“Mom…”
“Yeah. When?”
“We’re going to shelter now.”
“Not a breath of air here.”
“There will be.”
“Okay.”
“Check out the nearest shelter.”
“Can I take the horses?”
“Call first thing tomorrow,” the line went dead.

Billy had helped me with the horses before hurricane Ewa. We’d chased them to hell and gone, trees crashing down around us as they raced for open country.  They sense stuff. We were living up the Alexander Dam Road in a big tough lava rock house. My husband  helped us get Flash and Beau in the barn and he and  Billy went to bed. I stayed in the rickety barn. All I can remember about that night was the noise. The sound of that storm was the roaring thundering thump beat of a thousand over-heated hearts.

This time I had three horses and not a Bill or a Billy in sight. Once I settled down I got to work. My house had survived Ewa with nary a scratch and I clung to that. I battened down the hatches. Secured everything I could. My idea was to lock the horses in the their stalls, get the cats and the dogs and- eventually-me in the car and ride it out. The horses were edgy under roof. I tried to calm them.

The first thing I noticed were the birds. It seemed like hundreds of them were feather- scrunching in the pasture and  the cattle in the hills  were lumping together across the street. I put three pans of food in the car, nibbles for the dogs and the cats, carrots for the horses, a bottle of wine for me and stood my ground. When a swirling gust threw me into the wrought iron, I checked into  my shelter and huddled down. Before the night was over the dogs were eating carrot, the horses nibbles, but I had the wine all to myself.

The next morning when the birds took off with a joyous whirr it was a celestial event. When a lost peahen in a tree let out a shriek all of us knew we’d made it.

It was a glorious golden morning on Kauai.

Hana Hou, (Encore)  Shared from Facebook...

Bettejo  also  publishes her own blog column.
You can check it out at ;  http://www.bettejo.wordpress.com .   Besides her blog she recently published and authored the humorous fiction book, "The Scam," check it out at(www.bettejodux.com) or  on Amazon.

http://www.bettejodux.com/

"The Dumbing Down of America..." 'Obama Da Dog'

"Obama Da dog taking a break from Reality TV and Facebook..."

People may look smarter these days, toting their laptops, Ipods, Ipads and cell phones everywhere they go, but are they?

People no longer make small talk with strangers in the grocery store, the bus, malls and coffee shops.  Everyone is in their own little narcissistic world talking or texting  someone miles away while they ignore the beautiful girl or handsome guy sitting  at the next table or shopping alongside them in the produce aisle of the super market.
Even while driving people have the need to talk, text, talk, causing accidents by not concentrating on the road.
On top of all this so called technology which is making people social outcasts since they do not learn how to conduct themselves in social environments  such as the cocktail party of the past. Nowadays everyone is posting what they ate for dinner on facebook, who cares?
The one good thing with all this, teenage pregnancy is down since people have very little human contact.  Everything is live-streamed on the Internet form religious services to  weddings and funerals, even intimacy, nobody needs to go anywhere anymore. People judge each other by how many friends they have on Facebook.
The icing on the cake is the most popular form of entertainment is Reality TV where real life people with no talent try to  entertain us doing nothing.
People seem dumber with all the technology than they did before the computer age? I long for the days where there was no Snooki, Paris Hilton, Honey Boo Boo and Big brother.
Charles Dickens sums this up best with his famous quote, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness..."
  Hana Hou, (Encore)  Shared from Facebook...

"Happy Jewish New Year..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Monday)

"Guest-blogger Judith Whitehead lives in
Amherst N.Y. and hasworked in the ophthalmology
 field of medicine
 for over 30 years..." Today she talks
 about  friends, family, health
 and her feelingson the Jewish New year ...
A Beautiful  Rosh Hashanah greeting http://www.123greetings.com/events/rosh_hashanah/happy/dip_your_apple_rosh_hashanah.html

　

At this time of year Jewish people gather with friends, family
and ask for forgiveness for all of our digressions that we have
 done during the past year.It is the Jewish New Year and tonight we will
spend it with dear friends and family as we have done every
year for the last several.

It’s our time to reflect on the past and be thankful for what we have; they
 are the most important things in life that one can not do without…friends, family
 andgood health for without those ingredients life would not be enjoyable.

With those important things all is possible and that’s what we will talk about tonight.
L'shana Tova and a Happy, healthy new year to all.
P.S. For those who want to go to Rosh Hashanah services, Our Jewish community live streams services. It's pretty cool, you can be at services in your pajama's. They have a live chat in a sidebar, it's cool, they kept acknowledged me last year saying we even have someone from Hawaii, not only that my sister in N.Y,. was at the same service. check it out. Services begin Sunday night at 8:15 eastern time, that's 2:15 Hawaii time, see you there...http://www.ourjewishcommunity.org/OJC_LiveStreaming.htm?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Watch+Services+in+your+Pajamas%3F++Why+Not%3F&utm_source=YMLP&utm_term=click+here

A Beautiful  Rosh Hashanah greeting card....
http://www.123greetings.com/events/rosh_hashanah/happy/dip_your_apple_rosh_hashanah.html

Aloha check out my opinion article in today's (09-15-12) edition of the Kauai garden Island news"Let them walk and give them wings..."
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-saturday-september/article_39707cb6-ff8b-11e1-bacb-0019bb2963f4.html

Hana Hou, (Encore)  Shared from Facebook...

"Happy Birthday Universe..." James "Kimo" Rosen'

Apple's and honey are a tradition
for Jewish New year. Symbolizing a sweet
and fruitful year to come...
http://www.123greetings.com/events/rosh_hashanah/happy/dip_your_apple_rosh_hashanah.html

Shalom,

Check out my opinion article in the 09-17-12 edition of the  Kaua'i garden Island News, "Happy Birthday, universe."

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-monday-sept/article_bc8e4652-0092-11e2-b5d6-001a4bcf887a.html



Happy Birthday Universe!


Monday September 17th is the Jewish New year, (Rosh Hashanah) It is the anniversary of creation,the birthday of Adam and Eve.
It is 5773 in the Jewish year, not 2012.

Unlike traditional new years, the Jewish New year is a time of reflection, soul searching and forgiveness.  Apples and honey are a tradition symbolizing a sweet and fruitful year to come.

Rosh Hashanah is where Jew's ask  G-d to be given another year of life and be entered into the book of life, asking not only G-d for forgiveness but for forgiveness from all those we have erred. One week later on yom Kippur your fate is decided,if you shall live or die in the coming year.

For those not Jewish or those atheist friends out there, nothing wrong with asking for forgiveness from others, a good way to start the Head (Rosh) of the year.  Therefore I am asking for forgiveness for all those I have erred and wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous Rosh Hashanah.
 Now If only I can remember to write 5773 on all my checks.   Happy Rosh Hashanah!

P.S. For those who want to go to Rosh Hashanah services, Our Jewish community live streams services. It's pretty cool, you can be at services in your pajama's. They have a live chat in a sidebar, it's cool, they kept acknowledging me last year saying, we even have someone from Hawaii, not only that my sister in N.Y, was at the same service. Check it out. Services begin Sunday night at 8:15 eastern time, that's 2:15 Hawaii time, see you there...http://www.ourjewishcommunity.org/OJC_LiveStreaming.htm?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Watch+Services+in+your+Pajamas%3F++Why+Not%3F&utm_source=YMLP&utm_term=click+here


A Beautiful  Rosh Hashanah greeting card....
http://www.123greetings.com/events/rosh_hashanah/happy/dip_your_apple_rosh_hashanah.html

Hana Hou, (Encore)  Shared from Facebook...

"Buy American..." 'Marvin Gross' (Source)

Marvin Gross a Financial consultant from Western New York
talks about the importance of supporting our American
Bothers and Sisters...

Well over 50 yrs ago I knew a lady who would not buy Christmas gifts if they were
made in China. Her daughter will recognize her in the following.

Did y'all see Diane Sawyer's special report? They removed ALL items from a typical, middle class family's home that
were not made in the USA .

There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink. Literally. During the special they showed truckloads of items - USA made - being brought in to replace everything and talked about how to find these items and the difference in price etc.

It was interesting that Diane said if every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items this year, it would create something like
200,000 new jobs!

I WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT WALMART and ON THE LABEL OF SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID 'FROM CHINA '

FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THE MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA '

I WAS SHOCKED SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT THE LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE
DOLE
SINCE IT'S FROM CALIF

Are we Americans as dumb as we appear --- or --- is it that we just do not think?
The Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in
American markets.

70% of Americans,.. believe that the

trading privileges afforded to the Chinese

should
be suspended.

Why do you need
the government to suspend trading privileges? You Can..DO IT YOURSELF,AMERICA !!

Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China ' or 'PRC'
(and that now includes Hong Kong), simply choose another product, or none at all. You
will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at
what you can do without.

Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some American farmer. Easter is just an example. The point is
do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own.

THINK ABOUT THIS: If 200 million Americans each refuse to buy just $20 of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar
trade imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!!

Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this on Aug.
1st and continue it until Sept. 1st. That is only one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their American
exports. Then they might have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it.

Remember, August 1st to Sept. 1st !START NOW.

Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are Americans and NOBODY can take us for granted.

If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives,WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET!

Pass it on, America ...

Well, come to think of it, instead of doing it for just 1 month why not try to do it all the time.

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...