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But we have hope, and perhaps a light at the end of our hunker-down bubble locally. So let’s get rid of gnawing rudeness and “me”-first attitudes. Let’s start reducing the angst that understandably built up with two years of fear, uncertainty, whack-a-mole rules, starts and stops, dos and don’ts, Safe Travels, don’t travels, etc.? PTSD can be treat- ed communally.
The author learned that being houseless does not mean being without the very best human qualities.
While we don’t hear many stories about COVIDiots lo- cally, we do hear of people behaving badly on planes, in restaurants and stores, and just about any location where human interaction (a practice frowned upon not long ago) occurs. Let’s calmly get back to being the Aloha State after spending far too long in an alone state.
Hui Aloha’s work does not involve one group addressing the problems of the other, but brings housed and unhoused people together for projects that benefit both the houseless and the community at large. Teams can, for example, clean
teers provided supplies.)
As I joined groups to drag driftwood to surround canoe gardens and clean up parks and beaches in Wai‘anae and Waimānalo, I came to know the houseless as multidimen- sional individuals; that ev- eryone’s reason for becoming houseless was unique and un- derstandable; that even without a roof overhead, one can feel a connection to the ‘āina, a
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belonging to one another and to community — which is the essence of home. I learned that being houseless does not mean being without the very best human qualities. The people I’ve met have been carriers of wisdom, skill and imagination. They have been powerful sto- rytellers and have given and taught me meaningful things.
We can consciously appreciate what we’ve got here, now that the waters are receding, the winds have died down, and the storm appears to be dissipating. We used to think a huge natural disaster might get us — hurricane, tsunami, volcanic eruption or earthquake — yet this time ‘twas but a tiny bug, plus earthlings’ chutzpah and intransigence.
sidewalks or, as they did in one area, maintain public re- strooms. (For the latter project, the houseless monitored and sanitized, while other volun-
Columnist Thomas Friedman of The New York Times said it well two weeks ago when he wrote, “How is it that we have morphed into a country where people claim end- less ‘rights’ while fewer and fewer believe they have any ‘responsibilities’?” But have we simply morphed? We’ve regressed and atrophied; our souls have surely sagged on many issues for many reasons. We live in an era where everyone (who are often no ones) gets 15 minutes of digital fame, where we strive to be liked, clicked on, befriended, and must take incessant selfies to prove — well, I’m still not sure what.
Clearly, long-term solutions to houselessness must be var-
Discovering Family
“We are not our brother’s keeper; we are our brother, and we are our sister.” — Maya Angelou
LBack To Aloha
Awoman speaking to no one in particular. A young man holding a sign at a busy intersection. Makeshift tents near a park. Those images would come to mind a year ago when I thought of the homeless. I saw a prob- lem to be solved with govern- ment top-down policies.
ike Charlie Brown lining up to kick the football after so many repeated failures with mischievous Lucy as his holder, we have great hope that this
ied and open to the robust input of all those affected. The prin- ciple “nothing for us, without us” embodies both justice and pragmatism. Those without houses are our family. They have been brave and can teach us about resilience, community and building family if we open our hearts, listen deeply and connect our stories to theirs in shared humanity.
Maya Soetoro is a professor at the Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution at University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She consults with the Obama Foundation, works with three nonprofits which she co-founded, and she enjoys volunteering with Hui Aloha.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Lynne Johnson and Robin Stephens Rohr.
time after several false starts, perhaps we are finally getting over the surreal hump of COVID-19. But with over 2.5 billion people worldwide still unvaccinated, it’s premature to declare victory just yet.
That perspective changed with an introduction to Hui Aloha, which emerged in part from a houseless person’s lament: “I’m tired of being ev- erybody’s service project. Why can’t I do a service project of my own?”
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
with Maya Soetoro
As COVID fades (alas, it won’t disappear), let’s be dif- ferent and be first in line as we display a heaping bowl of tolerance, empathy and civil discourse. We won’t always agree — frankly, we never did on lots of things. But let’s reign in the useless ugliness that pervades far too many facets of far too many lives. Maybe local residents saying “lucky you live Hawai‘i” will actually employ that senti- ment going forward.
Think about it ...
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com