Na Kai Ewalu – 19 Sept. 2009

Gorgeous sunny Saturday and the music was fine! Pono Shim, son of Alvin and Marion Heen Shim, joined us to talk about how he is approaching his job as President and CEO of Enterprise Honolulu, the private Oahu Economic Development Board. Banks, insurance companies, HECO, and other businesses participate in Enterprise Honolulu as a hands on way to assist economic development.

Pono maintains that a Hawaiian way of doing things, hinging everything on aloha and pono, or justice, is the most effective method. He says sustainability is too low a goal to be going for. Our real goal should be prosperity, which is what Hawaiians had—maximum productivity with a healthy mind, body and community. He’s funny to talk to, full of stories. In the end Pono says even the impasse between unions and the state administration could be solved by answering the question: who are we? If we are a community of aloha and justice, pono, shared sacrifice on the part of EVERYONE for the greater good is clearly the answer.

Meleanna Meyer, long time grassroots artist, activist and educator, dropped by to tell us about a 72 foot mural she is working on at the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki. A great process involving professional artists including Solomon Enos and 22 youth from around the island.

Meleanna left us with “Mahalo i ka mea loa’a” the idea of gratitude for the things we have as an idea to take into the week. We do have all that we need. In addition, Meleanna left this encouragement: “Kulia i ka nu’u” strive for the highest. There certainly is much to be done!