The 2014 World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WiPC:E) is being held this week at Kapi’olani Community College on Oahu.
As a native Micronesian raising a family on Hawaii Island, I try to be mindful of my place as a visitor in this society. What has my own culture taught me on how to conduct myself when visiting another island in terms of honoring the hosts? How should we Micronesians live pono (Hawaiian for righteousness) or fairo (Chuukese for respectful living) as a way to honor the indigenous Hawaiians who are truly our hosts? Here are my thoughts:
- We must live humbly for in that humility lies our strength of character.
- We must work harder and our children to excel in schools for that is our key to advancement.
- We must become the best that we can by working hard to be independent and not make welfare as our goal in life.
- We must persevere through the hardships as navigators did to reach calm waters.
- We must be courageous warriors to fight injustice alongside our indigenous Hawaiians in their quest for self-governance.
Let the voice of our Papa Mau Piailug remind us that we were once one Oceanic people connected by the ocean, but were divided by colonizers. We may not have the voting spears yet to fight alongside our native Hawaiian brothers and sisters in their battle against the oppressive colonizers, but we do have our singing voice. The least we Micronesians can do is to know by heart “Hawai`i Pono`i,” the Hawaiian national anthem written by King David Kalakaua for his Hawaiian people.
“Hawai`i Pono`i”
Hawai`i pono`i (Hawaii’s own true sons)
Nana i kou mo`i (Be loyal to your chief)
Kalani ali`i ke ali`i. (Your country’s liege and lord, the chief)
Chorus:
Makua lani e (Royal father)
Kamehameha e (Kamehameha)
Na kaua e pale (Who defended in war)
Me ka ihe. (With spears)
Full version and translation (Source: Wikipedia)
| Hawaiian | English |
|---|---|
| Hawaiʻi ponoʻī, | Hawaiʻi’s own true sons, |
| Nānā i kou moʻī, | Be loyal to your king, |
| Kalani aliʻi, | Your country’s liege and lord |
| Ke aliʻi. | The chief. |
| Hawaiʻi ponoʻī, | Hawaiʻi’s own true sons, |
| Nānā i nā aliʻi, | Look to your chiefs, |
| Nā pua muli kou, | The children after you, |
| Nā pōkiʻi. | The young. |
| Hawaiʻi ponoʻī, | Hawaiʻi’s own true sons, |
| E ka lāhui ē, | People of loyal heart, |
| ʻO kāu hana nui | The only duty lies |
| E ui ē. | List and abide. |
| Hui: | Chorus: |
| Makua lani ē, | Father above us all, |
| Kamehameha ē, | Kamehameha e, |
| Na kaua e pale, | Who guarded in the war, |
| Me ka ihe. | With his spear. |
