Page 2 - MidWeek - April 19, 2023

2 MIDWEEK APRIL 19, 2023
Movie writer-director extraordinaire M. Night Shya- malan summed it up when discussing his latest scare-fest, The Cabin at the End of the World, in Time magazine. He said, “Our culture has moved toward individualism. Tech- nology really accelerated that and then the pandemic was the final nail in the coffin ... Do we find purpose when we define ourselves not only as individuals, but as part of a greater collective?”
The author is thankful for kumu hula who perpetuate the art of storytelling and cultural wisdom.
taught and handed on from one generation to another if those treasures are to sur- vive. You are surprised and delighted to have become a wisdom keeper for Hawaiian hula and song, a kumu hula, who has taught so very many of your own students. In the ki‘ipā hula, the inward move- ments toward the performer’s own feelings and energy are followed by outward move-
Personally, I hope the collective thing wins out because lately it seems that while we associate with many interest- ing people, many simply aren’t interested. Locally, where we share pride in a certain ethos of caring and kindness, it seems nowadays that while people may hear us, they’re just not listening (or caring).
Back in the car afterward,
just been learned. More les- sons, faithful practice and devoted commitment lie ahead, but with careful study and understanding of the new words, by the time the car reaches the Pali tunnels, you know — and will never forget — the hula.
Jane Marshall Good- sill is the author of “Voices of Hawai‘i: Stories of the Generation that Shaped the Aloha State” and “Voices of Hawai‘i: Preserving Island Culture One Story at a Time.” Visit voicesofhawaii. com.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Robin Stephens Rohr and Lynne Johnson.
If you’re caught up in survivalism, escapist podcasts, inflation anxiety and self-preservation, you’ ve possibly developed (understandably) a kind of shell to safeguard yourself from a more aggressive, semi-dysfunctional world. While protecting ourselves and our loved ones is primal and vital, it might be a good time to ask yourself: at what price?
there is a frantic search for some paper — even a Wig- Wam package — to write down new words that have
That was 50 years ago. From ancient times, Ha- waiians have known that cultural treasures must be
Someone just returned from a trip, and no one asked, “How was it?” People mentioned they just visited their kids on the mainland and no one asked, “How are they?” with any real intent. Friends, neighbors, family, casual acquaintances, co-workers. Almost everyone’s apparently too busy with their own things to give a hoot about anyone else’s things.
SPEED BUMP
Sharing The Treasures
“Knowledge is an heirloom to treasure.” — Puakea Nogelmeier
YAlone Together
Imagine being a 9-year- old boy whose sister is taking hula lessons at the Mānoa playground from Ms. Adeline Lee. You watch and mimic, and within two years you know and can flawlessly perform all the hula dances.
ou can blame technology or wonder if it’s our de-evolution as a species, but anecdotal evidence suggests that we might be reverting into entities
Impressed, Ms. Lee arrang- es for lessons from a skilled Hawaiian dancer. Getting to the lessons is no small feat. It means riding all the way to Kahana Valley, going over the Pali at 25 miles per hour. It takes forever! Then, the teaching begins with a very ancient seated hula using the pūniu, a sharkskin knee drum. You keep cadence on the drum with the right hand, while gesturing with the left hand. These dances involve intricate drumbeats and movements and, indeed, intense concentration.
ments in a sharing with oth- ers.
more self-absorbed than ever before. The recent pandemic and digital addictions surely coaxed us further in that direc- tion via isolation, fear, new habits and enhanced tribalism (over masks, vaccines, rules, rights, etc.).
Our mahalo to Ms. Lee, who recognized someone who could be entrusted with the mission to learn, to share and to master this sacred art form — and to Kimo Keaula- na for carrying out that mis- sion with faithfulness and honor.
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
Perhaps I’ve exaggerated a bit, but this is the last place in the world that I expected people would become callous, preoccupied or distant. I thought humans might be reborn coming out of COVID-19 — more accepting, kinder, open, relaxed and relieved. You know? That we actually made it! Maybe this is just a natural phase, happily freed from hibernation, just a temporary byproduct compounded by the ridiculous inability of so-called national leaders to bring people together. Maybe it’s our human defense mechanism on steroids after so much pandemic angst, loss, economic concern and uncertainty about next month or next year.
Whatever it is, I sure hope it dissipates. Soon. Think about it.
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com