• Sandra’s aumakua • Favors Coco Palms Park idea • The spirit of Coco Palms • Hawaiian language program beneficial • Mahalo to coach Steven Kaui Sandra’s aumakua Because of our diverse, multicultural society, we Kauaians tend to forget the
• Sandra’s aumakua
• Favors Coco Palms Park idea
• The spirit of Coco Palms
• Hawaiian language program beneficial
• Mahalo to coach Steven Kaui
Sandra’s aumakua
Because of our diverse, multicultural society, we Kauaians tend to forget the spiritual attributes that are an integral part of our island home, attributes bestowed upon our aina (land) by the people who first settled here. Among these spiritual attributes are the aumakua.
Although Sandra’s killer might naively believe that he has gotten away with murder, and although the police have labeled her case “cold,” both should keep in mind that Sandy’s amaukua is waiting and will not rest easy until her case is resolved.
This tragedy is far from settled and if I were Sandra’s killer, I would not be able to rest easy, for someday, somewhere, Sandy’s aumakua will see to it that justice is done … if not in this world, then in the next.
I think it would be wiser to repent in this world than to take my chances in the next.
Dennis Cabral
Koloa
Favors Coco Palms Park idea
The idea to bring back Coco Palms to its traditional place in Hawaiian culture is gaining strength. Sunday’s front page news that Sen. Gary Hooser has been working hard at this is a welcomed surprise and such encouraging news that all Kauaians can be proud of. The response to “Coco Palms Park” has been overwhelming and the suggestions for its success very exciting.
One suggestion by Noah and Genevieve Evslin that a music venue play a central role is wonderful. Just think, after so many years that Coco Palms has been silenced Larry Rivera and his daughter and other island treasures can once again bring our community together through their song. Imagine, “Coco Palms Park,” a gathering place for all Kauaians to enjoy once again.
Michael Smith
Kapa‘a
The spirit of Coco Palms
Since the Wailua River was originally “The River of the Great Sacred Spirit” and the area is covered with heiaus, Senator Hooser’s call to protect and not develop the Coco Palms land is an opportunity not to be missed. The spirit of the old resort will then not be rubbed out by something different and overwhelming, our traffic problems won’t increase a hundred-fold due to a huge business there, and best of all, everyone for generations can enjoy the splendor of the sacred Wailua River valley.
Saving it will be something we’ll be proud we did.
Wendy Raebeck
Kapa‘a
Hawaiian language program beneficial
The Hawai‘i Legislature should continue to fund the Kupuna-Keiki program that is presently established in our public schools.
My wife and I took a cruise to French Polynesia, which included the Marquesas. The most important asset that the people there have is their native language, which is in daily use between them. In Tahiti they are also fluent in French, as I found when I asked a young Tahitian about the one man outrigger canoe that he was assembling to engage in a race that was about to happen.
He was talking in Tahitian to his fellow paddlers, when I asked him, “ou achete,” pointing to his canoe. He replied, “Papeete.”
“Combien?” I asked.
He gave me a figure in francs that amounted to $1,600. “Merci,” I said and left him to finish assembling his canoe. When we got home I found that we also had one man outriggers in Hawai‘i. It’s a good thing that I didn’t buy one in Tahiti.
It is the same in Samoa. They speak Samoan and English on a daily basis.
The point is that language is vitally important to establishing and maintaining a culture. The perpetuation of a Hawaiian culture was severely held back when the New England missionaries discouraged the use of the Hawaiian Language. Very seldom do you hear Hawaiian spoken as a means of primary communication between two people.
The present school program cannot possibly undo the harm that was done, but it can be a means by which our children can learn to distinguish between historical fact and myth, both of which are important to our understanding of what Hawaiian culture presently exists. An example of this is the myth that taro or calo is an ancestor to the Hawaiian people. Yet, it is so true that calo gave life to the ancient Hawaiians, and it would have been hard for them to survive without it.
Harry Boranian
Lihu‘e
Mahalo to coach Steven Kaui
On Jan. 26, I had the opportunity to attend the Kapaa High School football banquet that was held at the school. Throughout the event I could feel the close bond that the coaches and athletes have developed over the past year. After the athletes were given their awards, coach Steven Kaui and his wife Tamlyn, expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the athletes and parents for supporting the team throughout the 2007-2008 football season. It was truly a very touching moment.
It is sad that coach Steven Kaui was only given the opportunity to be the head coach for the Kapaa High School varsity football team for one year. However, it is very apparent by the turnout of the athletes and the families that his efforts did not go unnoticed. The tremendous respect and class that he treats his athletes with is immeasurable.
As an alumni of Kapaa High School, I’d like to send a warm mahalo to Coach Steven Kaui for taking the Kapaa High School varsity football team under his wing with such short notice and leading them on a journey that they will never forget. You should be proud of yourself in what you’ve accomplished with the team. It is not always about winning, but also about teaching your athletes to grow into positive young adults and guiding them down the right path, both personally and academically.
I commend you on a job well done.
Preston Brede
Anahola
