Letters 5-2

Headline

Why blame Pele
for poor air quality?

As a public relations/news editorial college graduate, a Native Hawaiian language speaker for over 20 years and educator, and a person who resides here in the land of Hawaiian royalty, in Kona Kai Opua I ka Lai, it was brought to my attention that an in-depth article titled “F: Lung Association fails county for air quality Blame Pele” was published, hence there’s some controversy behind the headline.

Hawaii County didn’t fail because of the air pollution and rapid volcanic eruption, but you’ve failed on the headline selection. This is a Hawaiian cultural sensitive issue now. It was nonsense and disrespectful to mention our goddess of Hawaiian volcanos Pele, to be the blame of air pollution. You’re wrong. Your facts are wrong.

Pele plays an imperative role in Hawaiian mythology or in broader terms in our Hawaiian culture. Pele is a powerful spiritual being born as a descendant of Papa and Wakea and who voyaged to Hawaii, creating our aina, giving us life, prosperity, resources and wealth. She is our creator of our aina, our land and natural resources. The people respect and honor Pele through our song, chant, hula and in our daily lives.

“I can’t believe they wrote Blame Pele as the headline. She’s our ancestor, our kupuna,” a friend said, who remains anonymous. “Why would they not do the proper research and said foreigners created air pollution? And how dare they utilize the name of a goddess, a spiritual being who can metamorph into a human being,” she said.

Pele has a significant role as long as poe Hawaii, we, Native Hawaiians have lived here. Our alii (chiefs, chiefess, kings and queens) honor Pele. She is the creator of our islands. Pele is connected through myths and legends with other gods and goddesses, such as Namakaokahai, goddess of moana kai hohonu, our ocean, her favorite sister Hiiaka, Poliahu, her love connection with Kamapuaa and so forth. The issue is not learning about Pele, but defaming her. You’ve defamed our Hawaiian culture and here’s a definite disappointment.

The new headline should’ve been Lung association fails county for air quality: Blame the rapid volcanic eruption or the foreign toxins put in the air by foreigners. What if I wrote an in-depth article regarding the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy? and title it “No sovereignty, blame the haoles.” I worked as an assignment/web editor for ABC News Colorado, and I understand the law and ethics behind journalism.

Using Pele in this sense is derogatory. She is no blame to the air pollution or anything connected to the foreign science discoveries based on air pollution. Pele is fierce, can be vehemently vindictive if you disrespect her and the islands. Pele is a true goddess of the Hawaiian people, a pillar to the islands. As she continues to erupt, we continue to prosper here on our native land. Hawaiians like myself, lives healthy and prosperous as long as Pele dwells in Kilauea.

“How can this publication blame Pele? We live in Kona, in the heart of Hawaiian royalty, where Kamehameha, the first lived and ruled Kona to be the first Capitol of Hawaii? That will be Kamakahonu,” another friend said. “We live in Kona, where Kamehameha, the third, who established Hawaiian Independence Day, was born in Keauhou-Kahalu’u,” she said.

How can a small town publication print this headline on front page in a town where the Hawaiian culture is reviving everyday? How can West Hawaii Today blame a Hawaiian goddess, a powerful spiritual and human being for air pollution? How can this publication have the pride, editorial approval and audacity to say Pele was the blame for air pollution?

Pele was here with my people long before air pollution became an issue or long before Hawaii had foreigners bringing in diseases and air pollution. Pele is part of our nature. Hawaiian people lived and honored Pele for thousands and thousands of years. Our island is exquisite because of Pele. If you can’t breathe and you’re not from here, then it’s time for you to move on. Simple.

As a 29-year-old Hawaiian man, with news/editorial background, I am proud to say that West Hawaii Today is promoting negative public relations. They have placed themselves in the negative light. I feel they intentionally printed this to entice more readers, since the paper has less circulation and readership. I feel the editor and writer purposely, intentionally printed this horrific and disrespectful headline to compel a mass audience, to build online readership ratings and so forth. Well, you did and now it’s time for you to make positive changes and move forward in making corrections. In other words, we call it pono (right) choices.

I hope you, as the editor of the paper can grasp and embrace these perspectives explained here in this letter. I hope the writers can dive into resources here on the island and be enriched and enlightened by people, like myself.

I hope the writers of West Hawaii Today can visit Kamakahonu, also known as Kamehameha Beach Hotel and learn about the dwelling place of our alii, our kings and queens. I hope your writers can visit Kilauea National Park, and walk in the crater, like I have done as a child, and converse with Pele, apologize to her and honor her. I hope your writers can visit Keauhou-Kahaluu and learn about the rich history of our land and people. For instance, Hapaialii, the heiau, or sacred temples, the birthplace of Kamehameha, the third, who established Hawaiian Independence Day. I hope your writers can walk on Alii Drive and visit Hulihee Palace, where alii such as Princess Ruth Keelikolani and Princess Bernice Pauahi vacationed and created numerous social gatherings. I hope your writers can visit Ehunuikaimalino or Punana Leo o Kona, the Hawaiian Immersion programs up mauka, and sit in a class of Hawaiian language speakers.

I hope when you or your writers drive near Kilauea and see an old Hawaiian woman in a white dress walking on the side of the road, you will pick her up and take her to her final destination, because that might be Pele. Since, you blamed Pele, you might, after all, see her visiting you one day. Laki Maikai, good luck.

Kalani Pe’a

Kailua-Kona