Synopsis: We are on the right track with the governor’s courageous signing of Senate Bill 232. Or are we?

Aloha mai e nā makamaka heluhelu o Kauakūkalahale. I kēlā pule aku nei, ‘akahi nō a lilo i kānāwai ka pila e ‘ae ana i ka “uniona kīwila” ma ke kānāwai i ka pūlima ‘ana aku nei o ke Kia’āina Neil Abercrombie. A e mahalo aku kākou iā ia no ia hana kūpono, i hana ‘ole ‘ia e kona mua. I loko nō na’e o ia ‘ano holomua, eia mai kahi nīnau, ua ‘ike ‘ia paha kākou hoa kanaka? A i ‘ole ia, e kipa hewa auane’i paha ke aloha i ka ‘īlio?

He hana wiwo ‘ole kā ke kia’āina hou, ‘oiai, i kēia manawa, he hiki nō i ke kanaka, he kāne a he wahine paha, ke komo aku i loko o ka “uniona kīwila” me kona kōko’olua aloha, he kāne paha a he wahine paha. ‘O ka mea ‘āpiki, ‘a’ole i mōakāka ko ke kia’āina kumu i hana ai pēlā. ‘O kahi ‘ōlelo a ke kia’āina, ‘o ka pūlima ‘ia ‘ana o ia pila i kānāwai, he hō’ike ia i ko ka honua nei, ua hāmama ka ‘īpuka o ko mākou wahi ōpū weuweu lā, no ‘oukou ia, a he hō’ike nō ho’i ia, he mau hoa hānau nā mea a pau ma kēia palekaiko nei, ‘o Hawai’i. (‘Eā, kohu ho’olaha ia ‘ano ‘ōlelo e paipai ana i nā kānaka e hele mai i ne’i nei e noho ai.) Ua hāmama kā ka ‘īpuka o ko kākou wahi ōpū weuweu? He nui nā kānaka o Hawai’i nei e kū’ē aku nei i ka ‘uo ‘ia ‘ana aku o ke kāne me ke kāne, a o ka wahine paha me ka wahine, i ka mānai ho’okahi, ‘o ia ho’i, ka hui ‘ana ma ke ‘ano “uniona kīwila” a male paha. A no laila, ‘a’ole paha kēia ‘āina he paredaiso, ke ‘ike aku i nā kānaka e kū’ē aku ana i kou ‘ano a me ke ‘ano paha o kou noho ‘ana. Pehea, ma muli o ka pono o ke kanaka i pūlima ‘ia ai ka Pila Kenekoa 232? A ma muli paha o ka pono o ke kūlana waiwai o kēia moku’āina?

A ke ho’ohālikelike ‘ia aku ka “uniona kīwila” me ia mea he male, ‘a’ohe nō i kau like. ‘O ka pa’a “uniona kīwila,” ‘a’ole e loa’a nā pōmaika’i pekelala a pēia pū me nā pono pekelala. ‘O nā pono a me nā pōmaika’i wale nō o ka moku’āina ke loa’a. A ‘o kekahi pilikia, ke pa’a ia ‘ano uniona ma kēia moku’āina nei ‘o Hawai’i, ‘a’ole e helu ‘ia e nā moku’āina kū’ē. No laila, inā awaiāulu ‘ia ke kāne me ke kāne, a ‘o ka wahine paha me ka wahine ma Hawai’i nei, a ma hope aku, ‘upu a’e ka mana’o, e ne’e aku i kekahi moku’āina, ‘a’ole e hiki ke ne’e wale aku. He mau moku’āina helu wale nō ke ‘ae nei i ia ‘ano hui ‘ana ma ke kānāwai. Aia wale nō paha a ‘ae ‘ia ma ke kānāwai ma kekahi moku’āina, a laila e helu ‘ia nō he “uniona kīwila” ma ia moku’āina.

Ua holomua nō, a piha hau’oli paha ka na’au o ke kanaka e mana’o ana e ho’ohui ‘ia me kona kōko’olua aloha ma lalo o ke kānāwai, akā, ‘a’ole paha i pau ka hana e pono ai.

E ‘ike ‘ia kākou hoa kanaka o kipa hewa ke aloha i ka ‘īlio.

E ho’ouna ‘ia mai nā leka iā māua, ‘o ia ho’i ‘o Laiana Wong a me Kekeha Solis ma ka pahu leka uila ma lalo nei:
» kwong@hawaii.edu
» rsolis@hawaii.edu
a i ‘ole ia, ma ke kelepona:
» 956-2627 (Laiana)
» 956-2624 (Kekeha)
This column is coordinated by the Hawaiian Language Department at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, supported by the Initiative for Achieving Native Hawaiian Academic Excellence.