The state deserves the protests on Mauna Kea. It has failed, and have long ago lost trust among the kanaka. However, there is no unified voice for the kanaka. When Mau Piailug helped educate the fractured kanaka in wayfinding, a leader emerged. Nainoa Thompson is leading us forward, and in turn we uncover our lost heritage: voyaging.

Now we need a new leader to embrace another lost principle: malama. Then we can rediscover more of our lost heritage.

Let us kanaka maoli be an example to the world about stewardship in tandem with voyaging into the unknown, instead of letting our “victimhood” rule us.

We must rise above and sacrifice the pleasure of “never” now, and ho‘oponopono for a more fruitful future, full of awe and wonder as well as responsibility, for the keiki o ka aina.

Clarence Weatherwax

Kailua

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