Page 2 - MidWeek - Feb 16, 2022

2 MIDWEEK FEBRUARY 16, 2022
Beauty Right Where I Am
“Everything that is made beautiful and fair and lovely is made for the eye of one who sees.” — Rumi
How Now, HAMAU!
Verdant green- ery curled lushly around me, cradling the muddy, worn path that seemed to stretch endlessly forward and up into the heav- ens. I was 14 and attempting a new, excitingly steep hiking trail in the Ko‘olau Moun- tains. Hiking had become a liberating escape from the anxieties and responsibilities of starting high school.
AMAU is an acronym, and so much more. The letters signify Health and welfare, Aid and awareness, Management with change, Aloha
hike, not only relieved to be safe, but also newly centered in a way I hadn’t expect- ed. Now when I feel over- whelmed with things to do, or worried about the state of the world, a quick appreciation of something beautiful right where I am brings me back to a path of calm and clarity.
Suhaila Ng is a senior at Punahou School and pas- sionate about conservation, botany, ecology and social justice. She is co-president of the Kalo Club, whose mission is to bridge the gap between land and people, emphasizing the importance of aloha ‘āina and ‘āina-based learning.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Lynne Johnson and Robin Stephens Rohr.
100% always, and Unifying organizations. But this is not simply a new nonprofit entity. This entity is laser-focused. For HAMAU’s purpose “is to educate and inspire the next generation of performing artists.” HAMAU seeks to do this by ensuring that there are “fair economic and working conditions in live venues, recording studios and in the digital domain.”
Suddenly, my foot slipped, the mountainside seemed to drop, and I lurched forward to grab the nearest handhold. I managed to pull back to safety, heart pounding. But relief was temporary; the trail had disappeared. I was thoroughly lost and alone. At that altitude, phone service was nonexistent; no maps, phone calls, or GPS could help me now. I sat down
When the author feels overwhelmed, she appreciates the beautiful where she is, which brings her back to a path of calm and clarity.
Unlike many of us, these artists (musicians, produc- ers, engineers, et al.) work on their own. They often seek their own insurance and handle their own medical costs, to name just a few areas of self-sustenance. HAMAU wants to help artists, and also bring music back with local artists performing live for locals and visitors alike.
The insect was dark and gleamed like onyx against tiny green leaves. Then I heard the birds’ whistles and chirps blending togeth- er like a symphony. A flutter of bright wings drew my at- tention to the canopy, a deli- cate maze of interlacing tree branches. The mud beneath felt damp and solid, contrast- ing with the light breeze that kissed my skin. Small rodents
KELLEY
rustled in the underbrush, foraging for seeds and fruit. Then the voices of some hik- ers wafted down from above, and I soon found my way back to the trail. But those moments alone in the forest continued to reverberate in my spirit. If I had not gotten lost, I never would have no- ticed those small, beautiful miracles of nature.
We all benefit from and enjoy the great, unique sounds of Hawaiian music, however you define that term. Old school kine, classic, Jawaiian, leo ki‘eki‘e, slack key, pedal steel, ‘ūkēkē. Whatever form of mele you enjoy or whets your palate, it comes from the heart and soul of some of the kindest and most hardworking people we know. And HAMAU pledges to provide a safety net “for the health, welfare and well-being of all Hawai‘i’s musi- cians and artists in the entertainment industry.”
in fear and frustration, and looked around.
I first learned of HAMAU three weeks ago while be- ing serenaded on Hawai‘i Island by HAMAU advocates (Brother) Noland Conjugacion, Kelly Boy DeLima, and Gaylord Holomalia. It’s not an easy life, and there’s a rite of passage and a passion as one moves up in the world of performing arts. HAMAU’s “simple” aim is to make sure that these beloved entertainers have a voice, are heard and can look forward to retiring some day with the same, basic creature comforts that so many retirees look forward to as they continue to be productive into their golden years.
My eyes settled on a beetle crawling across thick moss.
I came down from that
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
with Suhaila Ng
HAMAU and its board pledge to work to advocate and promote as it evolves in the coming years, includ- ing “a space for collaboration” to be located downtown. It plans to work alongside business leaders of the Ha- wai‘i Executive Collaborative and the tourism industry “to build the ecosystem for performing arts in Waikīkī and other resort areas in Hawai‘i.”
“Hāmau” means to hush, be still or silent. To help preserve this vital cultural resource of our islands, HAMAU cannot be silent. Stay tuned.
Think about it...
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com