Ali‘I, Teacher, Indigenous Hawaiian Natural Farmer, Community Servant

When I was asked to join the Shaka Movement I knew my answer immediately. I have lived the Shaka Movement all my life.

The state Motto “Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono” (Life is perpetuated through a balanced relationship with the land) came from our King and he bestowed it unto our Chiefs. Then one day we somehow became a so-called territory and whoever were the politicians during the time of the territory also adopted that same motto.

Then after the period of being a territory came state hood in 1959. Those legislators also adopted that motto until today. Every election year as the politicians are sworn in and give their oath, right behind them on the wall is the State Seal and that motto Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono.

My Tutu once said, “ It’s simple. If it hurts anyone or anything… If you the Ali‘I, you the leader, you the politician, you the head of your family… If the decision you make hurts anyone or anything and the ramifications go deep… then you have to back and look for a better answer.”

I lay down the challenge to all my family members and all the heads of families throughout Maui Ne to also join us. I am an Ali‘I, a member o f the royal order of Kamehameha. So, I also put out the challenge to all my fellow Ali‘I to also step forward and malama our ‘aina and our people.

My Grandfather, my Uncle and my brother all worked for the plantations and they all sprayed pesticides. They were all part of the Union and whenever this issue showed up they all had to show up wearing their red shirts and were on the clock getting paid to support the poisoning of our lands.

But, this time around, I want to remind my brothers and sisters that do work for the these agro-chemical businesses… do what you do and go along with things for now…

but in the voting the booth, when you close the curtain…

you know what box to check.