IMUA (Forward)

by Rev. Kealahou Alika

It has been said that in looking back, we become aware that our vision of the past is hindsight. It’s easier for us to analyze and evaluate situations when we are looking back to the past, than when we are looking in the present moment.

Hindsight is about reflecting on things in the past and 20/20 refers to perfect vision. If we are to look back on the year 2020, it will require an acknowledgement of the polarization that has occurred in our political and religious discourse.

An ‘ōlelo no‘eau or Hawaiian wisdom saying that I am often wont to quote is: “Nānā i mua, nānā i hope. In order to move forward, we must look back.”

In looking back over the polarization that has occurred across the U.S. throughout the year and especially in the weeks leading up to electoral vote count, a friend recently wondered out loud whether or not we would be able to return to civility; that is, whether or not the way we communicate with one another can be done with civility; whether or not we can engage in respectful discourse and with common decency.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, civility is defined as “formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech . . . courtesy, politeness, good manners.” As I thought about the political turmoil over the last week, I thought about the political turmoil that engulfed Hawai‘i as American business interests sought to limit the constitutional power of Lili‘uokalani.

What would we say of the coup that occurred when a group of American sugar planters under Sanford B. Dole established a provisional government with Dole as President?

What would we say of the foreknowledge of John L. Stevens, the U.S. Minister to Hawai‘i and the 300 U.S. Marines from the US Boston called to Hawai‘i under the pretense of protecting American lives?

President Grover Cleveland responded by sending a new U.S. Minister, James Blount, to restore the queen to her throne under the 1887 constitution, but Dole refused to step aside and instead proclaimed the independent Republic of Hawai‘i. Cleveland’s successor President William McKinley negotiated a treaty with the Republic of Hawai‘i in 1897. A year later the Spanish-American war broke out and Hawai‘i, with its port at Pearl Harbor, became a strategic location for its naval base. A year later, Hawai‘i was annexed to the U.S. by a joint resolution of Congress. In 1900, Hawai‘i became a U.S. Territory.

Looking back, we now know that among the people of Ka Lahui Hawai‘i, the nation of Hawai‘i, there was resistance to the overthrow and the annexation of Hawai‘i to the U.S. In her own moments of self-reflection, Lili‘uokalani offered her observation of what had transpired as she looked to the future.

If there is to be a return to civility, it will come “on the width of a blade of pili grass.”

The queen wrote: “I could not turn back the time for political change, but there is still time to save our heritage. You must remember never to cease to act because you fear you may fail. The way to lose any earthly kingdom is to be inflexible, intolerant and prejudicial. Another way is to be too flexible, tolerate of too many wrongs and without judgment at all. It is a razor’s edge. It is the width of a blade of pili grass. To gain the kingdom of heaven is to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen and to know the unknowable – that is aloha. All things in this world are two; in heaven there is but One.” (The Betrayal of Lili‘uokalani: Last Queen of Hawai‘i 1838–1917, Helena G. Allen, Mutual Publishing, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, 1982)

The Rev. Kealahou Alika retired in February 16, 2020 as the pastor of Keawala‘i Congregational Church – United Church of Christ (USA), Mākena, Maui having served the church for 29 years. He currently serves as an officer of the Hawai‘i Conference Foundation of the Hawai‘i Conference – United Church of Christ; as an officer of the State Council of Hawaiian Congregational Churches; and as a member of the Reconciliation Working Group of the Hawai‘i Conference (UCC). He previously served as the Executive Director for what was then known as the Pacific & Asian American Center for Theology & Strategies in Berkeley, California from 1979 – 1985 and later as an Administrative Assistant for Mission & Evangelism for the Presbytery of San Francisco, Presbyterian Church USA from 1986 – 1991.

The Rev. Kealahou Alika retired in February 16, 2020 as the pastor of Keawala‘i Congregational Church – United Church of Christ (USA), Mākena, Maui having served the church for 29 years. He currently serves as an officer of the Hawai‘i Conference Foundation of the Hawai‘i Conference – United Church of Christ; as an officer of the State Council of Hawaiian Congregational Churches; and as a member of the Reconciliation Working Group of the Hawai‘i Conference (UCC). He previously served as the Executive Director for what was then known as the Pacific & Asian American Center for Theology & Strategies in Berkeley, California from 1979 – 1985 and later as an Administrative Assistant for Mission & Evangelism for the Presbytery of San Francisco, Presbyterian Church USA from 1986 – 1991.