I am local-born and bred with the following credentials: educated at Kekaha and Waimea High, which enabled me to return to become a teacher here on Kauai. As such, I taught at Waimea and Kauai high schools and Kauai Community College, along with classes offered by the Kauai Senior Center and the adult education program of the Department of Education, Hawaii.
My life experiences have been nearly entirely home-bound with the fact that I have been at the same residential locale in Kekaha since 1937, and will will continue to live there until it’s time to say “aloha oe” for the last time.
So, being at the sunset of my life, I’d like to leave a couple of thoughts for both residents and visitors to our beautiful Kauai. First, take good care of our environmental integrity; and secondly, do so with the essence of aloha in your hearts.
Sounds so basic and simple, doesn’t it? Keep the island beautiful, clean, and serene! Place emphasis on what will restore our finite resources. Stay away from the kinds of things that will contaminate and/or pollute what we deem to be so precious about our beloved Kauai — the land, the water, the air, and the life of the land that can thrive and flourish abundantly on this island.
In the process of taking care of this place, we will need to factor in the ways in which we interact with one another, as well. This is where we need to take stock of the ways in which we have become a blended society of multicultural diversities. Not only are there groups which strongly identify with ancestral origins from various places throughout planet Earth, but also, combinations that truly represent the colors of the rainbow in racial hues and then some!
In spite of our differences, we have found ways in which to intermingle who we are and what we do — at work and at play — in the household, the classroom, the churches and temples, and the meeting rooms wherever and however these things exist throughout the island. We have learned how to overcome disruptions, prejudices, traditions and threats to overcome fears, to seek justice, to bring fairness, in our quest to bring what is right and best for all.
In the process of change, there will be challenges. In the outcomes of the struggles, we arrive at the destinies which define our future!
Through it all, no matter how different we are, we have so much in common as well. So, it may be best to simply approach the tasks before us with this in mind: “The greatest thing we’ll ever learn: is just to love and be loved in return.” These are the closing lyrics to the song rendered by Nat King Cole decades ago in the middle of the 20th century as he warbled this song with such grace and stature.
I share this with all who are here, as residents and visitors, here on our “Beloved Kauai — beyond compare!
Your sweet maile, a fragrance rare!
This is the moment for you and me to share our true love, eternally!
Beloved Kauai, you’ll always be — a joy in life for me, forever more!
With birds we’ll fly to the sky … to touch the stars up high …
While angels whisper and sigh: Beloved Kauai.”
These are the lyrics to a song I wrote several decades ago.
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Jose Bulatao Jr. is a resident of Kekeha.
Well said! My hope is that everyone on the island reads your letter! Thank you for writing this.
Beautifully written. Thank you for your service to the children of the island.