A positive resolution for everyone
No matter what side of the TMT fence you’re sitting on, this was a great victory, and a positive step forward in the right direction by both Gov. David Ige and Mayor Harry Kim. It sure beats stalemate status, heavy-handed tactics, and empty promises of peaceful negotiations that’s for sure.
Currently, it’s Makahiki season for the kia’i (ancient Hawaiian New Year festival in honor of god Lono of the Hawaiian religion.) And the start of a New Year for many who are looking forward to a fresh start and putting this past year completely behind them. It’s also a time for peaceful negotiations that are celebrated by the kia’i protectors this time of year. And for others, making those New Year resolutions that we often find ourselves struggling to maintain — let’s be honest.
But as the rest of the world counts down to midnight, and with the New Year filled with so much uncertainty, Hawaii residents will need to step into the future not only in celebration, but also for some seriously required reflection and mandatory negotiations.
Peaceful negotiations with positive results is my hope for the New Year. According to Carl Schmitt’s famous doctrine, he states, “that when the drum of war is banging on the side of one category of identity, that of a friend or an enemy, pushes aside and subordinates other categories of identity.” This couldn’t be a more accurate description of Hawaii residents and its current state today.
Both constitutional and statutory duties by Gov. Ige and Mayor Kim have been less than impressive. Applying legal pressure was also a necessity to get these so-called leaders off their okoles. And I assure you, that our legal pressure will continue to remain upon them as long as they continue to serve in denial. They were both elected to do a job and get paid very well in doing so. So it was high time they were held responsible to their oath of office, period.
If Hawaii is ever going to live up to its reputation as the “aloha” state ever again, then internal and external peace and harmony must exist. And we must all be willing to be open-minded during this process.
As a community, we must also be sure that Ige and Kim makes “we” the “people” their 2020 resolution and main priority. This is the responsibility of all sides during these upcoming peaceful negotiations.
After all, we all know that peace and harmony is a necessary condition for the survival and development of mankind no matter where we live.
Lisa Malakaua
Hilo